Yothu Yindi

Yothu Yindi, an Australian musical group with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal members, was formed in 1986 as a merger of two bands from 1985: the Swamp Jockeys, a white rock group, and an unnamed Aboriginal folk group. The Aboriginal members hailed 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 traditional vocals and dance, Milkayngu Mununggurr on yidaki, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu on keyboards, guitar, and percussion, Mandawuy Yunupingu as the past lead singer, and Yirrnga Yunupingu on vocals and guitar. The band's name translates to "child and mother" in Yolngu language. Their debut single "Mainstream" was released in March 1989, followed by their first album Homeland Movement in May of the same year. In 1990, Yothu Yindi established the Yothu Yindi Foundation to promote Yolngu cultural development. The band's breakthrough came with "Treaty", which peaked at number 11 on the ARIA singles charts in 1991, and their related album Tribal Voice, which reached number 4 on the ARIA albums charts. They toured extensively, including performances with Neil Young and Tracy Chapman, and represented Australia internationally. In December 2012, Yothu Yindi was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

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