Who are the Yolngu?
The Yolngu are the Aboriginal people of northeast Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. They are known for their strong traditions, complex kinship system, bark painting, music and the yidaki, or didgeridoo.
Yolngu society is divided into two moieties, Dhuwa and Yirritja, and into many clans, each with its own lands, languages, songs and designs. Everything in the world, from people to animals and places, belongs to one moiety or the other.
The Yolngu have played a major role in Australia's land rights history. In 1963, Yolngu leaders sent the Yirrkala bark petitions to federal Parliament, protesting against bauxite mining on their land. These petitions combined English text with traditional bark paintings.
Culture today
Yolngu culture is shared through the Garma Festival, held each year at Gulkula, and through art centres such as Buku-Larrnggay Mulka at Yirrkala.
Famous Yolngu include musician Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, the band Yothu Yindi, and land rights leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu.
Many Yolngu live in communities such as Yirrkala, Galiwinku on Elcho Island, Ramingining and Gapuwiyak, and in the town of Nhulunbuy. Yolngu Matha is the name for the group of languages they speak.
Did You Know?
Yothu Yindi's 1991 song Treaty became the first song in an Aboriginal language to reach the Australian charts.