Yothu Yindi (Yolngu for "child and mother", pronounced /ˌjɒθuː ˈjɪndi/, natively [ju:t̪u jindi]) are an Australian musical group with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal members, formed in 1986 as a merger of two bands formed in 1985 – a white rock group called the Swamp Jockeys (Todd Williams, Michael Wyatt, Cal Williams, Stuart Kellaway, Andrew Bellety), and an unnamed Aboriginal folk group consisting of Mandawuy Yunupingu, Witiyana Marika, and Milkayngu Mununggur.

The Aboriginal members came from Yolngu homelands near Yirrkala on the Gove Peninsula in Northern Territory's Arnhem Land.

He was Mandawuy's older brother, a Yolngu clan leader and sometimes a member of Yothu Yindi on bilma and guitar.

[1] On their tour of Arnhem Land, in Australia's Northern Territory, they were supported by a Yolngu band composed of 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 Bakamana Yunupingu on vocals and guitar.

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.

[4] Yothu Yindi toured with Neil Young in Australia, then head-lined in Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong.

[5][6] Chairman of the foundation was Galarrwuy Yunupingu,[6] Mandawuy's older brother, a Yolngu clan leader and sometimes a member of Yothu Yindi on bilma and guitar.

The band commissioned their friend and relative (married to Gurrumul's sister), master yiḏaki-maker Djalu Gurruwiwi, to make their didgeridoos, which also brought his skills to the attention of the world.

[7] In 1988, as part of Bicentennial celebrations, Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke visited the Northern Territory for the Barunga festival where he was presented with a statement of Aboriginal political objectives by Galarrwuy Yunupingu and Wenten Rubuntja.

[2] Mandawuy, with his older brother Galarrwuy, wanted a song to highlight the lack of progress on the treaty between Aboriginal peoples and the federal government.

[10][11] The initial release had little interest,[3] but when Melbourne-based dance remixers Filthy Lucre's Gavin Campbell and Robert Goodge adapted the song, their version peaked at No.

[2][16] The money was used to travel to New York, where they performed at the United Nations for the launch of International Year for the World's Indigenous People.

[17] At the 1993 ARIA Awards, Yothu Yindi won 'Best Video', Burrundi Pictures Michael Wyatt and Stephen Johnson, directed by Stephen Maxwell Johnson, and 'Best Indigenous Release' for "Djäpana (Sunset Dreaming)" and 'Engineer of the Year' for Greg Henderson's work on "Djäpana" and "Tribal Voice".

[2] After intense touring in 1994, Williams left Yothu Yindi and was replaced by Colin Simpson on guitar, they added Ben Hakalitz (ex-Not Drowning Waving) on drums and Baruka Tau-Matagu on keyboards.

[19] It was released as a single in 1997 by trio Judith Durham of The Seekers, Russell Hitchcock from Air Supply and Yothu Yindi's Mandawuy Yunupingu by EMI Australia and it peaked at No.

She subsequently died, Yothu Yindi band member Gavin Makuma Yunupingu was found guilty of "committing a dangerous act causing death" and in June 2002 he was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment at Berrimah Jail, Darwin.

[23][24] In May 2001 the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), as part of its 75th-anniversary celebrations, named "Treaty" as one of the Top 30 Australian songs of all time.

[5][6] On 23 July 2008 a 23-year-old woman was stabbed numerous times; "yidaki" player N. Yunupingu, who was described by Northern Territory police as the offender, was later found dead by hanging.

Yothu Yindi created a special place in the Nation's heart through their passionate and ground breaking music.

Their achievements remain a lasting heritage in both our community and overseas and we look forward to celebrating their induction at the ARIAs in is what is sure to be a magic moment".

Longtime members Witiyana Marika, Malngay Yunupingu and Stuart Kellaway were joined by blues singer Yirrmal (Marika's son), vocalists Yirrnga Yunupingu and Constantina Bush (aka Kamahi Djordon King), multi-instrumentalist Ania Reynolds (director of Circus Oz) and guitarist Megan Bernard,[40] while the Filthy Lucre duo Nick Coleman and Gavin Campbell worked on mixing and production.

[41] The group played on ABC Radio's The Friday Revue and at the Homeground festival at the Sydney Opera House, which celebrates Indigenous culture (November 2017[42]), and created a hip hop version of Treaty with Baker Boy.

[41] On 26 June 2021, Yothu Yindi played at the Yarrapay Festival, which was directed by Witiyana Marika, at Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre in Yirrkala, along with the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band, Yirrmal, and East Journey.

[45][46] Arranged alphabetically:[2][1][3] Many other musicians apart from Paul Kelly have collaborated or performed with Yothu Yindi, including Jimmy Barnes, Billy Thorpe, members of the Grateful Dead,[46] Midnight Oil, Neil Young, Santana,[47] and Emma Donovan.

The National Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from throughout Australia.