Yothu Yindi - Early Years: 1986–1990

Early Years: 1986–1990

Swamp Jockeys was formed in 1985 containing balanda (European/non-Aboriginal people) Andrew Belletty on drums, Stuart Kellaway on bass guitar and Cal Williams on lead guitar, on their tour of Arnhem Land in Australia's Northern Territory they were supported by a Yolngu band containing Witiyana Marika on manikay (traditional vocals), bilma (ironwood clapsticks) and dance, Milkayngu Mununggurr on yidaki (didgeridoo), Gurrumul 'The Guru' Yunupingu on keyboards, guitar and percussion, and Mandawuy Yunupingu (born Bakamana Yunupingu) on vocals and guitar. They united to form Yothu Yindi (pronounced 'yo-thoo yin-dee'), 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, where they blend the typical instruments associated with 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 in the coming together of different cultures.

Mandawuy Yunupingu was a tertiary student studying to become a teacher, he later became principal at his own Yirrkala Community School, touring by Yothu Yindi was restricted to school holidays in the early years of the band. In August 1988 they performed in Townsville, Queensland at the South Pacific Festival of Arts, next month they represented Australia in Seoul, South Korea at the Cultural Olympics. Bart Willoughby (ex-No Fixed Address, Coloured Stone) joined on drums in late 1988 and Yothu Yindi toured USA and Canada as support act to Midnight Oil. Upon return to Australia they were signed to Mushroom Records and, with Leszek Karski (ex-Supercharge) producing, recorded their debut single "Mainstream" released in March 1989. It was followed by debut album Homeland Movement in May, a second single "Djäpana (Sunset Dreaming)" was released in August, neither singles nor album had any major chart success. Yothu Yindi toured with Neil Young in Australia, the band then head-lined to Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong, in 1990 they toured New Zealand with Tracy Chapman, and then performed in festivals in the UK. In 1990 five clans of the Yolngu formed the Yothu Yindi Foundation to promote Yulngu cultural development. Chairman of the foundation is Galarrwuy Yunupingu, he is 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.