Gurrumul and Delta

Recently on the TV programme The Voice (yes I watch it occasionally - shock horror!) the extraordinarily talented indigenous singer Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu joined one of the judges - the beautiful Delta Goodrem - to promote Reconciliation Week with a duet Bayini. If you haven't heard them singing this soul-stirring performance then get ready to be 'blown away'.

Yellow is the colour of reconciliation

His critically acclaimed multi-award winning solo album Gurrumul is an absolute must have - either in CD form or downloaded from ITunes (I'm an android gal myself!). The duet Bayini is also available on ITunes and proceeds from the sales will go to the Gurrumul Yunupingu Foundation investing in youth programmes in Arnhemland. 

Gurrumul album cover

Gurrumul was born in 1970 at Galiwin'ku off the coast of Arnhem Land 600 kilometres from Darwin. Born blind he only speaks a few words of English. Extremely shy, he sings hauntingly beautiful stories of his land in both his native language Yolngu and English. 

With the announcement of the untimely death this week of the former lead singer of indigenous rock group Yothu Yindi, of which Gurrumul was a former member, the renowned former Australian of the Year Mr Yunupingu (neither his visage nor his first name are mentioned here in respect to the tradition of his people - unlike many newspapers and television channels who showed no respect to these traditions - shocking) reminds us of how far we still need to travel with reconciliation in this country.   

Take your time 

Remove any pre-conceived thoughts

Relax

Breathe deeply

And go for the ride

(Hang in through the ever compulsory advertisement) 

To hear them singing just click on this link

You won't regret it

I bet you get goose bumps!