The former lead singer of indigenous band Yothu Yindi has died at his home in the Northern Territory.
Mandawuy Yunupingu died at home in Yirrkala, Eastern Arnhem Land.
The singer, 56, was named Australian of the Year in 1992 for his role in building bridges of understanding between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.
Yunupingu was the first Aboriginal person from Arnhem Land to gain a university degree, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Deakin University in 1988.
In 1989 he became assistant principal of the Yirrkala Community School. In 1990 he took over as principal of that school, becoming the first Aboriginal principal in Australia. He held this position until late 1991, leaving to pursue his career with Yothu Yindi.
He always said he believed that life should be balanced and in harmony and that his mother taught him important Aboriginal ideas about how to live with people and with nature.
His name, Yunupingu, means rock - rock that stands against time. AAP[left][/left]
[quote author=The Chairman link=topic=80783.msg503490#msg503490 date=1370214672]
The former lead singer of indigenous band Yothu Yindi has died at his home in the Northern Territory.
Mandawuy Yunupingu died at home in Yirrkala, Eastern Arnhem Land.
The singer, 56, was named Australian of the Year in 1992 for his role in building bridges of understanding between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.
[/quote] I can never understand why great people like this man has to build bridges with the white oppressors. Did he break any bridges did he stole land or murdered millions of aboriginals? , no, the criminal entities who are the rulersย today must build bridges to the aboriginals and ask for their forgivenessย
He was a member of the Yolngu Tribe. One of the 20 or so tribes in Australia which still lives traditionally.
At the time of European contact, Australia was home to some 750-800 tribes, each speaking its own language. Some 200 tribes remain now, and only around 10% of them still speaks the aborigine languages.
