Yothu Yindi (Yolngu for "child and mother") were an Australian musical group with Aboriginal and balanda (non-Aboriginal) members, formed in 1986 as a merger of two bands formed in 1985 - a White rock group called the Swamp Jockeys and an unnamed Aboriginal folk group. 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 (Drums), Witiyana Marika on manikay (traditional vocals), bilma (ironwood clapsticks) and dance, Milkayngu Mununggurr on yidaki (didgeridoo), Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu on keyboards, guitar and percussion, and leader Mandawuy Yunupingu on vocals and guitar.
The band combined aspects of both musical cultures, their sound varying 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 and bilma. 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 second single from Tribal Voice was "Djäpana (Sunset Dreaming)" which peaked at No.13 in 1992. Their debut album was Homeland Movement in 1988 on Mushroom Records, other albums are Tribal Voice in 1991, Freedom in 1993, Birrkuta - Wild Honey in 1996, One Blood in 1998 and Garma in 2000.
Hey Yolngu Boy Under the neon light Hey Yolngu Boy Under the neon light Come with me see a brand new day You see that cycad palm That's the pure eye You see that cycad palm That's the living bread Come with me see a brand new day You see that long black cloud Up towards Batjutjpi You see that long black cloud Back towards Narulwuy Maybe it's raining at Lamiwuy Hey Yolngu Boy Under the cycad palm Now you know for sure That I really care for you Only the eye can tell you why Hey Yolngu Boy Under the neon light Hey Yolngu Boy Under the neon light
In 1993 I was working as a young criminal lawyer for AboriginalLegal Aid in the Northern Territory... Read more ... As we began to share our stories she told me she had been a backup singer with the band Yothu Yindi and was now working as a schoolteacher ... .
Ed Sheeran made a surprise appearance during the Mushroom 50 Live - 50 Songs for 50 Years concert, which aired on Channel Seven Sunday night ... 'BEST sound and vibe in the room so far Yothu Yindi,' one person present at the gig in person wrote on X ... .
The Mushroom 50 Live - 50 Songs for 50 Years concert aired on Channel Seven on Sunday night ... Pictured. Jimmy Barnes ... 'BEST sound and vibe in the room so far Yothu Yindi,' one person present at the gig in person wrote on X. Elsewhere, another fan wrote ... .
Corey Webster, whose Blak Out show plays only indigenous music on national youth radio network Triple J used his Sunday night slot to play Yothu Yindi's Treaty on a continuous loop ... 'And trust, it isn't a mistake ... 'We will not sit in silence ... .
end of list ... ‘Invasion Day’ ... Yothu Yindi’s song Treaty. Sung in both English and Gumatj language, the protest song Treaty was released by the band Yothu Yindi in June 1991 and quickly climbed towards the top of Australian and international music charts.
Thirty years ago, before Michael Long blazed his way to the Norm Smith medal, the grand final band was Yothu Yindi, famous for the song Treaty...Instead, two current Yothu Yindi musicians have another booking.
Those are a majority of all voters and a majority of states in favour of the proposal. Collectively this is known as 'a double majority' ... Pictured Anthony Albanese with Yothu Yindi board member Djaawa Yunupingu in EastArnhem Land in 2022 ... READ MORE ... .
