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
Video
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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.
