Mandawuy Yunupingu

Mandawuy ( Djarrtjuntjun ) Yunupingu, formerly Gudjuk and Tom Djambayang Bakamana Yunupingu called (* September 17, 1956 at Yirrkala on the Gove Peninsula, Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, Australia, † June 2, 2013 ) was an Aborigine the Yolngu (whose will no longer be called first name Mandawuy in the tradition of the Yolngu after his death).

He was a teacher, singer, songwriter and guitarist. In addition, he was the first Aborigine from the Arnhem Land, who received an academic title. Furthermore, the first indigenous school principal was in Australia. Since 1986 he was the band leader of the rock group Yothu Yindi Aboriginal and was elected in January 1993 for Australian of the Year in 1992. In 1998 he was awarded the Queensland University of Technology, the title Doctor hc

Name

After his death, the family announced that his name no longer shall be called, instead, Mr Yunupingu, Dr Yunupingu, Mr M. Yunupingu, or even lead singer of the Yothu Yindi band- and Australian of the Year in 1992. Followed Thus the family of Sepulkralkultur tradition of the Yolngu.

The name Gudjuk from his younger years was later changed to Mandawuy. Change the Yolngu the name when a clan member died of the same name.

His first name means Mandawuy of clay. Djarrtuntjun the roots of Myrtenheiden trees are mentioned, which continue to burn and radiate heat, even if the bushfire has already been laid. Yunupingu is the name for a solid rock, the drinking water in moving from a salt water area and is there deep in the earth. Gudjuk is a fire dragon.

Family

His father Munggurrawuy Yunupingu was an artist and Elder of Gumatj. His father is known in Australia, because he actively fought against the construction of the Gove bauxite mine. This mine was built on the Gove Peninsula without any consultation with the traditional land owners. The petition was filed against it by the Yolgnu the Australian parliament in two languages ​​on a tree bark, called the Yirrkala Bark Petition.

His mother Makurrng was a member of the clan of Galpu. His oldest sister Gulumbu Yunupingu was an artist and healer and the artists Nyapanyapa and Barrupu are two other sisters. His eldest brother is Galarrwuy Yunupingu, a senior Elder, musician and activist of the land rights movement of Indigenous people of Australia, who was elected in 1978 to the Australians the year.

Yunupingu lived in his family of five daughters and his wife Gatjilayngu Maymuru ( Yalmay ) from the clan of Rirritjingu.

Early life

Little is known of his childhood and youth. According to him, Yunupingu was born on a hillside of grass hill in a king - eucalyptus forest, near a river at Yirrkala. His father sent him to Yirrkala Methodist Mission, which maintained a Sunday school in Yirrkala. There he was taught Christian. He announced in an interview that he particularly liked the biblical story of David and Goliath.

Politician

Yunupingu fought for reconciliation of Aboriginal and white Australians. For this he was elected Australian of the Year in 1992. In the grounds of the award ceremony his appearance in New York with the song Treaty at the United Nations International Year of the World's Indigenous People was particularly appreciated.

In 1990 he established the Yothu Yindi as a bandleader Foundation, which aims to preserve the culture and interests of the Aboriginestamms the Yolngu to promote and make known worldwide. An essential part of the work of the Foundation is the Garma Cultural Festival, in August of each year takes place annually since 1999 at Nhulunbuy and is organized by her.

Career

Teacher

Yunupingu published in the 1980s essays in which he developed an independent school model for Aborigineskinder that ( both ways ) has become known as Both Ways. In these writings he tried to bring the traditions and the cultural life of Aboriginal people with western teaching methods in line. He developed a special curriculum, as well as a corresponding Educators.

In 1988, he was the first Aborigine from the Arnhem Land, which closed at Deakin University with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. He was employed at the Yirrkala Community School as an assistant training director and 1990 appointed headmaster in 1989. The end of 1991 he resigned from this post. In 1998 he was appointed honorary for its educational achievements of the Queensland University of Technology to the doctor.

Musician

By 1985, Yunupingu formed a band from the Yolngu Aborigines. In 1986, this opened against white Australians; took them on as members and the band Youthu Yindi was born.

In the first time the band appeared only in the periods in which Yunupingu at the College had no lectures. In 1988 the band went with him on tours throughout Australia and North America. On the first album Homeland Movement of the band there is also a song Djapana ( Sunset Dreaming ), the texted Yunupingu.

National and international recognition learned the song Treaty, which was released in June 1991. It reminded the Aboriginal rock band, the Australian government on a promise of an agreement between the Aborigines and white Australians. The song peaked in the ARIA Singles Chart 11th place and was 20 weeks in the Top 50 was texted the song, which also includes portions of the Yolngu Matha language, by Australian musician Paul Kelly, with the participation of all indigenous band members, including Yunupingu.

Yunupingu brought as a bandleader six albums out: Homeland Movement ( March 1989), Tribal Voice ( October 1991), Freedom ( November 1993), Birrkuta - Wild Honey ( November 1996), One Blood (June 1999), Garma (November 2000). On tour and studio recordings with Yothu Yindi Yunupingu was in many countries. In Germany, he and his band was known for her collaboration with Peter Maffay for his album "Encounters ".

From 2007 he joined because of health problems as a musician no longer publicly. In 2009, his condition had improved to the extent that he could play music on the stage at the Garma Festival 2009. It was his last musical appearance in public.

Obituaries

After his death from kidney failure at the age of 56 years there have been numerous Obituaries:

The Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard expressed that a uniquely talented musician, a passionate advocate for the rights of Aboriginal people and a sincere great friend had died. The Australian Minister for School Education Peter Garrett, who was the band leader of Midnight Oil in the early 1980s and cooperated with Yothu Yindi, was a close friend of Yunupingu. Garrett did not want to believe that his friend, a very successful musician and pioneer had died first. The Minister for Indigenous Affairs Warren Snowdon said that Yunupingu was for the right to health of Aboriginal people in addition to his achievements as a musician, a great teacher and a fighter. The opposition leader in the Australian Parliament, Tony Abbott stated that with Yunupingu an important leadership figure had been lost. He had not only had great importance for the Aboriginal people, but also for the entire society of Australia. He died early, this is, unfortunately, but beyond that a big problem for the entire indigenous population of Australia.

To state memorial service - on the occasion of the death of Dr. Junupingu - came on June 30, 2013, the reigning Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd with Jenny Macklin, Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Minister Peter Garrett, after Gulkula in Arnhem Land. Gulkula is the traditional and historically significant for the Yolngu place on the annually hosts the Garma Cultural Festival.