This multiracial Australian band (the name is an Australian aboriginal phrase for ‘Mother Child’) blended native and white sounds and sentiments. The group were founded in 1986, the year of Australia’s bicentennial, and practised a highly politicised and nationalistic form of music-making.
Drawing from sounds as diverse as the didgeridoo and the electric guitar, and finding great thematic inspiration in Bob Marley, Yothu Yindi played for cultural harmony and aboriginal integrity.
Their albums included Tribal Voice (1992) – which included their hit single Treaty (1991) and Freedom (1993).
Treaty was the first single by an Aboriginal band to chart in Australia and spent 30 weeks in the Top 100.
Singer Mandawuy Yunupingu was named Australian of the Year in 1993, the year the Native Title Act was introduced in the Australian federal parliament.
Galarrwuy Yunupingu died of renal failure in 2013. Gurrumul Yunupingu died in 2017.
Galarrwuy Yunupingu
Vocals
Mandawuy Yunupingu
Vocals, guitar
Jodie Cockatoo
Vocals
Cal Williams
Guitar
Gurrumul Yunupingu
Keyboards, percussion, guitar, vocals
Mikayngu Mununggurr
Didgeridoo
Makuma Yunupingu
Didgeridoo
Stuart Kellaway
Bass, guitar
Hughie Benjamin
Drums
Allen Murphy
Drums
Andrew Belletty
Drums
Banula Marika
Dancer
Bunimbirr Marika
Didgeridoo
Witiyana Marika
Dancer, vocals
Mangatjay Yunupingu
Dancer
