Mandawuy Yunupingu Explained

Mandawuy Yunupingu
Birth Name:Tom Djambayang Bakamana Yunupingu
Native Name:Gudjuk
Native Name Lang:Yolŋu languages
Alias:Gudjuk, Dr Yunupingu
Birth Date:1956 9, df=yes
Birth Place:Yirrkala, Northern Territory, Australia
Death Place:Yirrkala, Northern Territory, Australia
Occupation:Musician, school principal
Years Active:1985–2013
Father:Mungurrawuy Yunupingu
Module:
Embed:yes
Instrument:Guitar, vocals

Mandawuy Djarrtjuntjun Yunupingu, formerly Tom Djambayang Bakamana Yunupingu, and also known as Dr Yunupingu (17 September 1956 – 2 June 2013), was a teacher and musician, and frontman of the Aboriginal rock group Yothu Yindi from 1986. He was an Aboriginal Australian man of the Yolŋu people, with a skin name of Gudjuk.

Yunupingu was a singer-songwriter and guitarist with the band. Yothu Yindi released six albums between 1989 and 2000, and their top 20 ARIA Singles Chart appearances were "Treaty" (1991) and "Djäpana (Sunset Dreaming)" (1992). The band was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2012.

In 1989 Yunupingu became assistant principal of the Yirrkala Community School and was principal for the following two years. He helped establish the Yolngu Action Group and introduced the both-ways education system, which recognised traditional Aboriginal teaching alongside Western methods. His wife Yalmay Yunupingu taught alongside him at the school.

Yunupingu was appointed Australian of the Year for 1992 by the National Australia Day Council. In 1993, he was one of six Indigenous Australians who jointly presented the Boyer Lectures "Voices of the Land" for the International Year for the World's Indigenous People. In April 1998, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Queensland University of Technology.

Early life, family, and education

Yunupingu was born as Tom Djambayang Bakamana Yunupingu on 17 September 1956 in Yirrkala, Arnhem Land, an Aboriginal reserve in the northeastern part of the Northern Territory.[1] [2] He was a member of the Gumatj people, one of sixteen groups of the Yolngu people.[3] His skin name was Gudjuk, but his name was changed to Mandawuy in 1990 when a family member with the same name died, in line with Yolngu custom. He described his names as "Mandawuy" means 'from clay'; Djarrtjuntjun means 'roots of the paperbark tree that still burn and throw off heat after a fire has died down'; Yunupingu depicts a solid rock that, having travelled from freshwater, stands in salty waters, its base deep in the earth. I am Gudjuk the fire kite".[3]

His father was Munggurrawuy Yunupingu (–1978), a Gumatj clan leader and artist.[4] His mother, Makurrngu – one of Munggurrawuy's 12 wives – was a member of the Galpu clan.[5] [6] His oldest sister, Gulumbu Yunupingu (1945 – 9 May 2012), was also an artist and healer.[4] [5] His other sisters are Nyapanyapa and Barrupu, who are also artists.[4] His older brother, Galarrwuy Yunupingu (1948 – 2023), a senior elder of Arnhem Land, was Australian of the Year in 1978, and was an Indigenous land rights campaigner.[4] [5]

Yunupingu attended Yirrkala Community School.

Teaching

In 1983, Yunupingu published "Outstation schools at Yirrkala" in Aboriginal Child at School, where he described the advantages to Indigenous people by "[determining] their own way of living, provided, they manage budgeting through Isolated Children's Allowance, staffing their schools, developing curriculum, and teacher training".[7] In March 1987 he contributed to the book, Educational needs of the Homelands Centres of the L̲aynhapuy Region, North East Arnhem Land : report of the Balanga ̲na Project : a Schools Commission Project of national significance.

He was the first Aboriginal person from Arnhem Land to gain a university degree, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Deakin University in 1988. In 1989 he became assistant principal of the Yirrkala Community School. He helped establish the Yolngu Action Group and introduced the Both Ways system at his school, which recognised traditional Aboriginal teaching alongside Western methods.[8] In 1990 he took over as principal of Yirrkala Community School.[9] Also that year he authored "Language and power : the Yolngu rise to power at Yirrkala School", detailing his work with Yolngu Action Group.[10] He remained principal until late 1991, leaving to expand his musical career.[11]

His wife, Yalmay Yunupingu, taught at the school for around 40 years before her retirement in 2023, and was also a dedicated teacher and mentor in bilingual education.[12]

Yothu Yindi

See main article: Yothu Yindi.

By 1985, with Yunupingu on vocals and guitar, he formed a Yolngu band including Witiyana Marika on manikay (traditional vocals), bilma (ironwood clapsticks) and dance, Milkayngu Mununggurr on yidaki (didgeridoo), and Gurrumul Yunupingu – his nephew – on keyboards, guitar and percussion.[13] [14] [15] The following year the Yolngu group combined with a balanda (non-Indigenous) group, Swamp Jockeys, which had Andrew Belletty on drums, Stuart Kellaway on bass guitar and Cal Williams on lead guitar.[13] [14] [15] The new collective, Yothu Yindi, performed Aboriginal rock which fused traditional indigenous music and dance with Western popular music.[13] [15] yothu yindi means "child and mother" and refers to the kinship of north-east Arnhem Land.[13] [15]

In the group's early years their performing was restricted to holidays as Yunupingu completed his tertiary studies and then started work as a teacher.[13] [15] By 1988 Yothu Yindi had toured Australia and North America supporting Midnight Oil.[13] [15] Late that year they recorded their debut studio album, Homeland Movement, which appeared in March the following year.[13] [15] Australian musicologist, Ed Nimmervoll, described it "[o]ne side comprised Midnight Oil-like politicized rock. The other side of the album concentrated on traditionally based songs like "Djäpana" (Sunset Dreaming), written by former teacher Mandawuy Yunupingu".[15] He was credited on the album as Mandawuy Bakamana Yunupingu and provided vocals, guitar and bilma.[13] [14] [16]

The band achieved national recognition for their single, "Treaty", the remixed version was released in June 1991, which reached No. 11 on the ARIA Singles Chart and stayed in the top 50 for 20 weeks.[17] Mandawuy and Galarrwuy had wanted a song to highlight the lack of progress on a treaty between Aboriginal peoples and the federal government.[18] The song contains words in Gumatj, Yunupingu's variety of Yolngu matha. It was written by Australian musician, Paul Kelly, with Yothu Yindi members Yunupingu, Kellaway, Williams, Gurrumul, Mununggurr and Marika.[19] [20] The associated album, Tribal Voice appeared in October 1991, which peaked at No. 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart.[13] [17] A re-recorded version of "Djäpana (Sunset Dreaming)" was issued as the second single from the album and reached No. 13.[13] [17]

Yunupingu's work on Tribal Voice was described by Allmusic's Jonathan Lewis, "[his] voice is suited perfectly to [traditional songs], but it is the rock tracks that are the weak links in this disc. Yunupingu is not a particularly good pop singer, and the music is sometimes insipid".[21] Nevertheless 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,[22] Tribal Voice peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums chart in 1992.[23] In 1991 "Treaty", co-written by Yunupingu, won the inaugural Song of the Year Award at the APRA Music Awards presented by Australasian Performing Right Association.[24] In May 2001 it was listed in the APRA Top 30 Australian songs of all time.[19] [25]

Yothu Yindi completed four more studio albums, Freedom (November 1993), Birrkuta - Wild Honey (November 1996), One Blood (June 1999) and Garma (November 2000).[13] [15] They toured Australia, North America, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong.[8] [13] [15] Yunupingu strove to achieve a better understanding of Aboriginal culture by balanda and was a prominent advocate of reconciliation between all Australians.

Yunupingu and the band established the Yothu Yindi Foundation in 1990 and since 1999 promoted the annual Garma Festival.[26] From May 2007 the foundation has supported the Dilthan Yolngunha (Healing Place), which uses traditional healing practices and mainstream medicine.[27] [28]

Recognition and awards

Death and legacy

Yunupingu died on 2 June 2013, aged 56 following a long battle with kidney disease.[9] [37] After his death, the Prime Minister of Australia at the time, Julia Gillard, said: "We have today lost a great Australian voice in the efforts towards reconciliation."[9]

In June 2014, the annual Dr Yunupingu Award for Human Rights was created as one of three awards at the newly-established National Indigenous Human Rights Awards in Sydney, New South Wales. His wife Yalmay delivered one of the keynote speeches at the inaugural awards ceremony on 24 June.

On 17 September 2020, Google celebrated Yunupingu's 64th birthday with a Google Doodle.[38]

Personal life and family

Yunupingu was married to a fellow teacher, Yalmay Marika Yunupingu[39] of the Rirritjingu clan, also referred to as Yalmay Marika[5] and Yalmay Yunupingu.[40] He is survived by five daughters and five grandsons.[6] [41]

One of his grandsons, Rrawun Maymuru, is lead singer of East Journey.[42] In May 2013, the National Indigenous Music Awards announced that Yothu Yindi were to be honoured at their awards ceremony in August, in which Maymuru was to be backed by original band members.[42] Yunupingu declared "My heart is full of joy. I am so happy to see that in my lifetime Indigenous music has come such a long way. And to have these talented artists come together to honour the groundbreaking work of Yothu Yindi makes me proud beyond words. Yow Manymak."[42]

His nephew Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu also played in Yothu Yindi. Gurrumul later formed the Saltwater Band and also had a solo career.[13] [15] [41] Other members of the extended Yunupingu family have also performed in Yothu Yindi: Galarrwuy (guitars and vocals); Mangatjay (dance); Yomunu; Gapanbulu (yidaki); Gavin Makuma (yidaki, bilma, vocals); Malngay Kevin (yidaki, bilma, dancer, vocals); and Narripapa Nicky (yidaki, dancer).[13] [14] [15] His nephew, Gavin Makuma Yunupingu, was jailed in 2002 over the death of Betsy Yunupingu, his cousin.[43] Another nephew, Nicky Yunupingu, died by suicide in July 2008.[44]

Health

Yunupingu was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure, which in turn contributed to advanced kidney failure, for which he received haemodialysis three times a week in Darwin. His condition was announced in 2007 following his attendance in January at a rehabilitation clinic after years of beer drinking – between one and four cartons (i.e. two to eight gallons, or 9 to 36 litres) daily, according to his psychiatrist.[11] [45] [46] By December 2008 he was resigned to the fact that he may die without having seen the longed-for settlement between white and black Australia:

By October 2009 he was on a kidney transplant waiting list.[45] He also undertook traditional healing practices. His sister Gulumbu was one of a group of senior Yolngu women who had helped set up Dilthan Yolngunha – a healing place – with the support of the Yothu Yindi Foundation.[46] Yunupingu was one of its first patients.[6] [46]

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20110418140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/119589/20110419-0000/www.australianmusichistory.com/this-month-in-australian-music-september/index.html . This Month in Australian Music – September . Gibson . Mark . Australian Music History . 18 April 2011 . 1 September 2010 . 5 June 2013 .
  2. News: Yunupingu Broke Indigenous Barriers . Australian Associated Press (AAP) . . . 3 June 2013 . 5 June 2013 .
  3. Web site: Mandawuy Yunupingu on Aboriginality and Culture . Yunupingu . Manduwuy . Yothu Yindi Official Website . 4 June 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130610070003/http://www.yothuyindi.com/thebandinfo4.html . 10 June 2013 . dmy-all .
  4. Web site: Artist Saw the Stars Crying . Eccles . Jeremy . . . 13 June 2012 . 4 June 2013 .
  5. Tradition, Truth & Tomorrow . Yunupingu . Galarrwuy . Galarrwuy Yunupingu . . December 2008 . 41 . 4 June 2013 .
  6. News: https://archive.today/20130627220905/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/songline-fades-for-treaty-man-mandawuy/story-e6frg6po-1111118239350 . Songline Fades for 'Treaty' Man Mandawuy Yunupingu . Robinson . Natasha . . News Limited (News Corporation) . 27 June 2013 . 6 December 2008 . 6 June 2013 . dead .
  7. .
  8. News: Mandawuy Yunupingu, Australian Musician and educator, Dies at 156 . Australian Associated Press (AAP) . . 4 June 2013 . 5 June 2013 .
  9. News: Yothu Yindi singer dies after disease battle . . Zuel . Bernard . Levy . Megan . . 3 June 2013 . 5 June 2013 .
  10. Book: Yunupingu, Bakamana . Cross-Cultural Issues in Educational Linguistics Conference (1987; Batchelor College, N.T.) Language; maintenance, power and education in Australian Aboriginal contexts . Christine . Walton . William . Eggington . . . 3–6 . Language and power : the Yolngu rise to power at Yirrkala School . 1990 . 5 June 2013 . Decisions on school matters made by Yolngu Action Group, who have control over both ways curriculum for both Yolngu and European culture. .
  11. Web site: Message from Mandawuy . . Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) . 3 June 2013 . 19 October 2009 .
  12. Web site: James . Felicity . Yolngu elder and bilingual educator Yalmay Yunupingu retires from Yirrkala school . ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 20 March 2023 . 25 January 2024.
  13. Book: McFarlane, Ian . . http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=800 . Ian McFarlane . . 1999 . Encyclopedia entry for 'Yothu Yindi' . https://web.archive.org/web/20040930230809/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=800 . 1-86448-768-2 . 30 September 2004 . 5 June 2013 .
  14. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20120927020038/http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/y/yothuyindi.html . Yothu Yindi . Australian Rock Database. Passagen (Magnus Holmgren) . Magnus . Holmgren . Warqvist . Stefan . 27 September 2012 . 13 February 2014 .
  15. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20120217165318/http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/en/yothuyindi/yothuyindi.htm . Yothu Yindi . HowlSpace. White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd . Nimmervoll . Ed . Ed Nimmervoll . 17 February 2012 . 5 June 2013 .
  16. Web site: Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) . 'Djapana' at APRA search engine . 5 June 2013 .
  17. Web site: Yothu Yindi – 'Treaty' . Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung) . Hung . Steffen . 5 June 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120310175525/http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Yothu+Yindi&titel=Treaty&cat=s . 10 March 2012 .
  18. Web site: George Negus Tonight Profiles – Transcripts – Mandawuy Yunupingu . Negus . George . George Negus . Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) . 8 July 2004 . 5 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080606014348/http://www.abc.net.au/gnt/profiles/Transcripts/s1150380.htm . 6 June 2008 . dead . dmy-all .
  19. Web site: APRA 2001 Top 30 Songs . Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) . 2 May 2001 . 5 June 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140401091541/http://www.apra-amcos.com.au/apraawards/musicawards/history/2001Top30Songs.aspx . 1 April 2014 .
  20. Web site: ACE Title Search . American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) . 5 June 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130306032310/https://www.ascap.com/Home/ace-title-search/index.aspx . 6 March 2013 . Note: User may be required to search for title, e.g. Treaty.
  21. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r57791|pure_url=yes}} ''Tribal Voice'' – Yothu Yindi ]. . Lewis . Jonathan . 28 May 2013 .
  22. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p23658|pure_url=yes}} Yothu Yindi – Charts & Awards – ''Billboard'' Singles ]. . 6 June 2013 .
  23. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p23658|pure_url=yes}} Yothu Yindi – Charts & Awards – ''Billboard'' Albums ]. . 6 June 2013 .
  24. Web site: APRA|AMCOS 1991 Winners . Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) . 1991 . 7 June 2013 . Writers: Bakamana Yunipingu/Stuart Kellaway/Gurrumul Yunipingu/Milkayggu Mununggurr/Cal Williams/Paul Kelly .
  25. Web site: The songs that resonate through the years . Kruger . Debbie . Debbie Kruger . Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) . 2 May 2001 . 7 June 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110709004348/http://www.debbiekruger.com/pdfs/aprathirty.pdf . 9 July 2011 .
  26. News: Australia's Yolngu People: Celebrating 40,000 Years . Carruthers . Fiona . . 18 December 2002 . 5 June 2013 .
  27. Web site: Yothu Yindi Foundation . garma.telstra.com . 6 June 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20001109232000/http://www.garma.telstra.com/yy_foundation.htm . 9 November 2000 .
  28. Web site: Yothu Yindi Foundation . The Healing Place Dilthan Yolngunha . 6 June 2013 .
  29. Book: Lewis, Wendy . Wendy Lewis (Australian Writer) . Australians of the Year . Pier 9 Press . 2010 . 978-1-74196-809-5 .
  30. Web site: M Yunupingu . https://web.archive.org/web/20200806005617/https://australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/m-yunupingu/96/. dead. 6 August 2020. . 6 February 2022.
  31. Web site: Tribal Voice (1993) - The Screen Guide . Screen Australia . 16 March 2018 . 19 April 2022.
  32. Web site: Wurrthunbuy Kevin Yunupingu. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 27 January 2014.
  33. Web site: ARIA Icons, Hall of Fame . Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) . 6 June 2013 .
  34. News: Yothu Yindi to be inducted into ARIA Hall of Fame . McCabe . Kathy . News Limited (News Corporation) . 26 October 2012 . 6 June 2013 .
  35. News: Yothu Yindi Inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame . Middleton . Alison . . Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) . 30 November 2012 . 6 June 2013 .
  36. Web site: Companion (AC) in the general division of the Order of Australia at the 2014 Australia Day honours. Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia. 7. 26 January 2014. 27 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402121500/http://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/ad/Media%20Notes%20-%20AC%20(final).pdf. 2 April 2015. dead.
  37. News: Yothu Yindi frontman Yunupingu dies aged 56 . . Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) . 6 June 2013 . 6 June 2013 .
  38. Web site: Mandawuy Yunupingu's 64th Birthday . Google . 17 September 2020 .
  39. Web site: James . Felicity . Yolngu elder and bilingual educator Yalmay Yunupingu retires from Yirrkala school . ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 20 March 2023 . 21 March 2023.
  40. Web site: Georgatos . Gerry. Gerry Georgatos. Finally! National Indigenous Human Rights Awards . . 14 May 2014 . 4 March 2022.
  41. News: Yothu Yindi legend dies . 4 June 2013 . . News Limited (News Corporation) . 3 June 2013.
  42. Web site: Sounds of Yothu Yindi for National Indigenous Music Awards 2013 . Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) . 28 May 2013 . 6 June 2013 .
  43. News: Yunupingu's son jailed for killing . . Australian Associated Press (AAP) . . 24 June 2002 . 6 June 2013 .
  44. News: Nicky Yunupingu found dead after stabbing incident . . . Australian Associated Press (AAP) . 30 July 2008 . 6 June 2013 .
  45. News: Drink puts Yothu Yindi star Mandawuy Yunupingu on the brink . . News Limited (News Corporation) . 18 October 2009 . 6 June 2013 .
  46. News: Tears of crocodile man fall in grief for his people . Hutchison . Tracee . Tracee Hutchison . . . 13 August 2007 . 6 June 2013 .
  47. Web site: Bewiyik ga ngän̲uk / Bakamanawungu; [illustrated by] Djokiwungu . . 6 June 2013 . Available online
  48. Web site: Stories from Yirrkala / in Gumatj . . 6 June 2013 . Available online
  49. Web site: Educational needs of the Homelands Centres of the L̲aynhapuy Region, North East Arnhem Land: report of the Balanga ̲na Project: a Schools Commission Project of national significance / by Daymbalipu Mununggurr, Bakamana Yunipingu [sic], Wäli Wunungmurra (special consultant); with the assistance of Helen Watson and Stephen Kemmis . . 6 June 2013 .
  50. Web site: 'Language and power : the Yolngu rise to power at Yirrkala School' / Mandawuy (Bakamana) Yunupingu . Cross-Cultural Issues in Educational Linguistics Conference . . 6 June 2013 .
  51. Web site: Education for a sustainable society: papers presented at the 31st National Conference of the Australian College of Education, Canberra, 1991 . . 6 June 2013 . For details of papers see entries under authors: F Christie; C Collins; B Dwyer; J Hunt; I Lowe; S Ryan; J Sobski; N Stephen; M-R Ungunmerr-Baumann; M Yunupingu . .
  52. Web site: Conned! / Eve Mumewa D. Fesl . . 6 June 2013 . Appendices; lists of missions and reserves, note on linguistic skills of Lutheran missionaries, comparison with North American situation, statement on language and power by Munduwuy (Mandawuy) Bakamana Yunupingu and national language policy papers . .
  53. Web site: Voices from the land / Mandawuy Yunupingu...[et al.] . . 6 June 2013 .
  54. Web site: National review of education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples : statistical annex / Department of Employment, Education and Training . . 6 June 2013 . Chair of the National Reference Group: Mandawuy Yunupingu. .
  55. Web site: Yothu Yindi – finding balance / Mandawuy Yunupingu . . 6 June 2013 . Describes the philosophy of the band Yothu Yindi and the concept of dynamic balance or harmony the words Yothu Yindi represent; describes how the Yolngu kinship system links people; discusses his own education and explains how the concepts of ngathu (a sacred bread made from flour of cycad palm nuts) and ganma have inspired the development of a Yolngu curriculum; argues that non-Aboriginal people need to make an effort to understand the logic of Aboriginal knowledge. .
  56. Web site: Wild light : images of Australia / [photographs by] Philip Quirk...[et al.]; text by Mandawuy Yunupingu . . 6 June 2013 . Previously published as: Wild light. Port Melbourne: William Heinemann Australia, 1995. .
  57. Web site: Double power: English literacy and indigenous education . . 6 June 2013 .
  58. Web site: 'A balance in knowledge: respecting difference' / Mandawuy Yunupingu . . 6 June 2013 . Mandawuy Yunupingu discusses his philosophy of life firmly rooted in his Yolngu heritage; aims to incorporate Yolngu knowledge systems into he Australian academic system; need to respect and value the Yolngu curriculum. .
  59. Web site: Reflections & voices: exploring the music of Yothu Yindi with Mandawuy Yunupingu / Aaron Corn with contributions by Marcia Langton ... [et al.] . . 6 June 2013 . In the early 1990s, the Australian band Yothu Yindi rose to national prominence with hit songs like 'Treaty' and 'Djpana' that would become part of Australia's cultural fabric. Aaron Corn takes us on a journey with Mandawuy Yunupinu through the ideas and events behind some of Yothu Yindi's best known songs. .

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