Yothu Yindi

Yothu Yindi (Yolngu for "child and mother", pronounced , natively ) is an Australian musical group with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal members, formed in 1986 as a merger of two bands formed in 1985 – a white rock group called the Swamp Jockeys (Todd Williams, Michael Wyatt, Cal Williams, Stuart Kellaway, Andrew Bellety), and an unnamed Aboriginal folk group consisting of Mandawuy Yunupingu, Witiyana Marika, and Milkayngu Mununggur. The Aboriginal members came from Yolngu homelands near Yirrkala on the Gove Peninsula in Northern Territory's Arnhem Land. Founding members included Stuart Kellaway on bass guitar, Cal Williams on lead guitar, Andrew Belletty on drums, Witiyana Marika on manikay (traditional vocals), bilma (ironwood clapsticks) and dance, Milkayngu Mununggurr on yidaki, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu on keyboards, guitar, and percussion, past lead singer Mandawuy Yunupingu and present Yirrnga Yunupingu on vocals and guitar.

The band combines aspects of both musical cultures. Their sound varies from traditional Aboriginal songs to modern pop and rock songs, where they blended the typical instruments associated with pop/rock bands, such as guitars and drums, with the traditional yidaki (didgeridoo) and bilma (clap stick). They adapted traditional Yolngu dance performances to accompany their music. More broadly, they promoted mutual respect and understanding in the coming together of different cultures.

Yothu Yindi's most widely known song, "Treaty", peaked at No. 11 on the ARIA singles charts in 1991 and the related album Tribal Voice peaked at No. 4 on the ARIA albums charts.

The group established the Yothu Yindi Foundation in 1990 to promote Yolngu cultural development, including from 1999 producing the annual Garma Festival of Traditional Cultures and from May 2007 running the Dilthan Yolngunha (meaning "Healing Place"). Chairman of the foundation was Galarrwuy Yunupingu. He was Mandawuy's older brother, a Yolngu clan leader and sometimes a member of Yothu Yindi on bilma and guitar. Galarrwuy had been named Australian of the Year in 1978 for his work for Aboriginal communities and Mandawuy was Australian of the Year for 1992 for his work with Yothu Yindi. In December 2012, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) inducted the band into the ARIA Hall of Fame, as part of the ARIA Music Awards of 2012. In 2023, the band were inducted into the National Indigenous Music Awards Hall of Fame.

Career

1986–1990: Early years

Swamp Jockeys were formed in 1985 by balanda (European/non-Aboriginal people) Todd Williams songwriter and lead singer, Michael Wyatt, songwriter and lead singer, Andrew Belletty on drums, Stuart Kellaway on bass guitar and Cal Williams on lead guitar. Yothu yindi is a Yolngu matha (Yolngu language) kinship term for "child and mother".

The band combines aspects of both musical cultures. Their sound varies from traditional Aboriginal songs to modern pop and rock songs in which they blend the typical instruments of pop/rock bands, such as guitars and drums, with the traditional yidaki and bilma. They have adapted traditional Yolngu dance performances to accompany their music. More broadly they promote mutual respect and understanding of different cultures. Yothu Yindi toured with Neil Young in Australia, then head-lined in Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong. In 1990 they toured New Zealand with Tracy Chapman, and then performed in festivals in the UK. Chairman of the foundation was Galarrwuy Yunupingu,

1991–1992: "Treaty" and Tribal Voice

In 1988, as part of Bicentennial celebrations, Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke visited the Northern Territory for the Barunga festival where he was presented with a statement of Aboriginal political objectives by Galarrwuy Yunupingu and Wenten Rubuntja. Hawke responded to the Barunga Statement with a promise that a treaty would be concluded with Indigenous Australians by 1990.|Mandawuy Yunupingu |8 July 2004

"Treaty" was written by Australian musician Paul Kelly and Yothu Yindi members Mandawuy Yunupingu, Kellaway, Williams, Gurrumul Yunupingu, Mununggurr and Marika.<!-- NOTE: Some sources include Peter Garrett of Midnight Oil as a songwriter. Both "Treaty" in 1992 and "Djäpana (Sunset Dreaming)" in 1993 charted on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play singles charts, with "Treaty" peaking at No. 6, Tribal Voice peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums chart in 1992.

In October 1992, then Prime Minister Paul Keating's government awarded Yothu Yindi with a $30,000 grant. The money was used to travel to New York, where they performed at the United Nations for the launch of International Year for the World's Indigenous People.

1993–2000: Continued success

At the 1993 ARIA Awards, Yothu Yindi won 'Best Video', Burrundi Pictures Michael Wyatt and Stephen Johnson, directed by Stephen Maxwell Johnson, and 'Best Indigenous Release' for "Djäpana (Sunset Dreaming)" and 'Engineer of the Year' for Greg Henderson's work on "Djäpana" and "Tribal Voice".

Yothu Yindi's third album Freedom was released in November 1993, the line-up included Mandawuy, Gurrumul, Makuna and Mangatjay Yunupingu, Marika, Williams, Kellaway, Benjamin and Munumggurr; and new members Banula Marika on vocals and dance, Bunimburr Marika on yidaki, Natalie Gillespie on vocals, Jodie Cockatoo Creed on vocals and clan leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu on bilma and vocals. It was released as a single in 1997 by trio Judith Durham of The Seekers, Russell Hitchcock from Air Supply and Yothu Yindi's Mandawuy Yunupingu by EMI Australia and it peaked at No. 17 on the ARIA Singles Charts in June.

Yothu Yindi's fifth album One Blood was released in 1999 and included "Treaty '98". In 2000, Yothu Yindi performed at the closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games. Gavin is the son of Galarrwuy and nephew of Mandawuy. In 2003 Yothu Yindi toured through Northern Territory schools with Mandawuy Yunupingu, yidaki players Gapanbulu Yunupingu and Nicky Yunupingu, and Kellaway using songs, storytelling and open discussions to inspire and encourage some of Australia's most vulnerable young people to attend school and stay healthy. The Yothu Yindi Foundation in May 2007 established the Dilthan Yolngunha (Healing Place) using traditional healing practices and mainstream medicines. N. Yunupingu was the nephew of both Galarrwuy and Mandawuy Yunupingu, and, as members of Yothu Yindi, they had just played a concert for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd some hours before the stabbing of the woman, who was admitted to hospital, and N. Yunupingu's subsequent death.

In 2009, News.com.au reported that Yothu Yindi lead singer Mandawuy Yunupingu needed a kidney transplant. Yunupingu said he drank up to four cartons of alcohol a day. "Alcohol was a big influence in my life. I didn't know what harm it did to my body. Before I knew, it was too late," he said.

At the ARIA Music Awards of 2012, Yothu Yindi were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, with Peter Garrett (then a former member of Midnight Oil) and Paul Kelly introducing the group.

ARIA chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment Australia and New Zealand, Denis Handlin said "On behalf of the ARIA Board it is with great honour that we induct Yothu Yindi into the ARIA Hall of Fame. Yothu Yindi created a special place in the Nation's heart through their passionate and ground breaking music. Their achievements remain a lasting heritage in both our community and overseas and we look forward to celebrating their induction at the ARIAs in is what is sure to be a magic moment". The group were joined by Garrett, Kelly, Jessica Mauboy and Dan Sultan to perform "Treaty" at the ceremony. In 2019 Double J"s Dan Condon described this as one of "7 great performances from the history of the ARIA Awards." In line with Yolngu cultural protocols, on 4 June 2013 the family requested that the first names of the deceased no longer be used until further notice.

In 2015 they collaborated with rock-reggae band East Journey on a project called The Genesis Project, which included an EP and a performance at the National Indigenous Music Awards 2015.

Yothu Yindi and The Treaty Project

In 2017, inspired by the 25th anniversary remix of "Treaty (Filthy Lucre remix)",). Longtime members Witiyana Marika, Malngay Yunupingu and Stuart Kellaway were joined by blues singer Yirrmal (Marika's son), vocalists Yirrnga Yunupingu and Constantina Bush (aka Kamahi Djordon King), multi-instrumentalist Ania Reynolds (director of Circus Oz) and guitarist Megan Bernard,), and created a hip hop version of Treaty with Baker Boy. Inn January 2018 they were booked to play at the Enmore Theatre with The Herd. They also played Strawberry Fields Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival at the opening night of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, continuing live performances into at least March 2019, including a tour to New Zealand,

2021–present

On 26 June 2021, Yothu Yindi played at the Yarrapay Festival, which was directed by Witiyana Marika, at Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre in Yirrkala, along with the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band, Yirrmal, and East Journey.

In August 2023, Yothu Yindi were inducted into the NIMAs (National Indigenous Music Awards) Hall of Fame for their trailblazing contribution to Indigenous music and the rights of First Nations people.

Members

Arranged alphabetically: and Emma Donovan.

Dhapanbal Yunupiŋu, daughter of Mandawuy Yunupiŋu, is a singer-songwriter, who credits the band with providing inspiration to many young Yolngu musicians. Among these are the band King Stingray, whose line-up includes Mandawuy's nephew, Yirrŋa Yunupingu, as lead vocalist, and Stuart Kellaway's son Roy Kellaway on guitar.

Label: East Journey
Format: Digital download

Compilation albums

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:17em;"| Details

! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart positions

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | AUS

! scope="row" style="text-align:center;" | Healing Stone

| align="left"|

Released: November 2012
Label: Festival (LMCD0212)
Format: CD, CD+DVD, digital download

| 88

Singles

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and originating album.

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Single

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year

! colspan="7 | Chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album

!width="40"|AUS

!width="40"|BEL (FL)

!width="40"|GER

!width="40"|NL

!width="40"|SWI

!width="40"|UK

!width="40"|US Dance

! scope="row"| "Mainstream"

| rowspan="2"| 1989

| 115

| —

| rowspan="2"| Homeland Movement

! scope="row"| "Djäpana (Sunset Dreaming)"

| —

! scope="row"| "Treaty"

| rowspan="2"| 1991

| —

| rowspan="4"| Tribal Voice

! scope="row"| "Treaty"

| 11

| 9

| —

| 29

| 33

| 72

| 6

ARIA: Gold

! scope="row"| "Djäpana (Sunset Dreaming)"

| rowspan="2"| 1992

| 13

| —

| 27

ARIA: Gold

| 2012

| —

| Healing Stone

! scope="row"| "Ngarrpiya (Octopus)"

| 2015

| —

| The Genesis Project

! scope="row"| "Treaty '18"

| 2018

| —

| align="center" colspan="11" style="font-size:small"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards

1991 – Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Songwriting Award for "Treaty".

ARIA Awards

Yothu Yindi has won eight Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Music Awards from 14 nominations. In 2012 they were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

National Live Music Awards

The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) commenced in 2016 to recognise contributions to the live music industry in Australia.

! scope="row"| 2023

| Yothu Yindi

| Live Legend Recipient

Mo Awards

The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as the Mo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Yothu Yindi won three awards in that time.

(wins only)

|rowspan="3"| 1992

|rowspan="3"| Yothu Yindi

| Rock Performer of the Year

| Australian Performer of the Year

| Australian Showbusiness Ambassador