ATS1346 Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Yothu Yindi, Garma Festival Of Traditional Cultures, Arnhem Land
25 May 2018
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Quiz 5 – Land, song, constitution: exploring expressions of ancestral agency,
intercultural diplomacy and family legacy in the music of Yothu Yindi with
Mandawuy Yumupinu
Introduction
• Yothu Yindi is one of Australia’s most celebrated popular bands
o Blend of rock and Yolnu performance traditions from northeast
Arnhem Land
o Early 1990s because renowned worldwide
o Six original albums
▪ Yolnu Boy (2000) and Garma Festival at Gulkula (2006)
o Formed in Darwin in 1986
o Singer/guitarist: Mandawuy Yunupinju (b. 1956)
o Wityana Marika: performer who sang and played bilma (paired sticks)
o Miklaynu Munungurr: player of yidaki (didjeridu)
o 1991: Treaty was first song with lyrics
▪ Dance Remix in 1992
▪ Influential anthem for Aboriginal Reconciliation movement in
Australia (2001)
Singing Children of the Earth
• Yolnu – means person, human: indigenous occupants and hereditary owners of
northeast Arhnhem Land in NT, Australia
• 7000 Yolnu Australians
• Hereditary ownership of land, from father to child
• Speak seven Australian languages – Yolnu-Matha (human speech)
• Axiomatic: people without land are people without identity
• All Yolnu see themselves as both wana-watanu (country holders) and rom-
watanu (law holders)
• Hereditary of names, songs, dances and designs – by wanarr
• Madayin of garma (open) and dhuni (sheltered) classes are performed in
public
o Esoterica of narra (restiricted) class revealed only to initiated men in
seclusion
• Access to use and understanding of hereditary names, songs, dances and
designs is regulated by qualified ceremonial leaders: liya-narra mirri (learned,
wise)
• Baywara song (1993): intimate relationships between country, ancestors and
law in Yolnu epistemology
• Tribal Voice (1992): Yolnu relaise ancestral identities through ceremonial
practice
o Influence of Christinaity in Yolnu lifestyles
o Stirring rock anthem for yolnu religious freedom and cultural survival
o Chorus: global diversity of human religions and echos activist
expression ‘get up’
To a Homeland Far Away
• First original song ‘Djapana: Sunset Dreaming’ (1983)
o Mandawuy explored blending manikay and rock
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Quiz 5 land, song, constitution: exploring expressions of ancestral agency, intercultural diplomacy and family legacy in the music of yothu yindi with. Introduction: yothu yindi is one of australia"s most celebrated popular bands, blend of rock and yolnu performance traditions from northeast. Arnhem land: early 1990s because renowned worldwide, six original albums, yolnu boy (2000) and garma festival at gulkula (2006, formed in darwin in 1986, singer/guitarist: mandawuy yunupinju (b. 1956: wityana marika: performer who sang and played bilma (paired sticks, miklaynu munungurr: player of yidaki (didjeridu, 1991: treaty was first song with lyrics, dance remix in 1992. To a homeland far away: first original song djapana: sunset dreaming" (1983, mandawuy explored blending manikay and rock, rock idiom could be harnessed as wakinnu (kinless) resource. Living in the mainstream: third original song mainstream" (1989): mandawuy"s revolutionary ideas on bilingual and bicultural education in indigenous schools, became first yolnu principal of yirrkala community school in 1990.
