Australian Indigenous performer Gurrumul Yunupingu has today released his new single Maralitja – Crocodile Man, originally performed by Yothu Yindi, as a tribute to the late Dr Yunupingu, whom Gurrumul called “wawa” or “brother”.
Gurrumul will be performing Maralitja – Crocodile Man at the National Indigenous Music Awards in Darwin tomorrow night. The song was one of Dr Yunupingu’s favourites, having heard Gurrumul’s cover of the song last year at the ARIA Hall Of Fame inductions. His family have approved the tribute’s release.
Musical collaborator and friend Michael Hohnen today said that Gurrumul had an enormous amount of respect for Dr Yunupingu, who was very significant to him. “He loved that man for many reasons but remembers this song Maralitja Man or Crocodile Man as a sharing of an identity with which they were both born – the identity of the saltwater crocodile”. Gurrumul himself made a rare public statement when learning of his brother’s passing, simply saying, “I respect him…and I love him…And I miss him.”
Gurrumul will be performing at The National Indigenous Music Awards in Darwin on Saturday, 10th August. He has won ten previous NIMAs and is this year up for National Artist of the Year, as well as two nominations for Song of the Year. Maralitja – Crocodile Man is out today.
