Anniversary of Gurrumul’s Historic Number-One Album Announcement

21 April 2018

Cultural advice: this page names Aboriginal people who have died. Linked resources may also contain their images and voices.

A milestone for music and language

On 21 April 2018, ARIA announced that Gurrumul’s Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) had debuted at number one on its Australian albums chart. ARIA identified it as the first album in an Indigenous language to reach that position.

This calendar uses the date of ARIA’s public announcement. It does not describe 21 April as the album’s release date. Distinguishing the release, the announcement and a weekly chart’s date helps keep the historical milestone clear.

An artistic achievement grounded in Yolŋu culture

The album was released after Gurrumul’s death in 2017. His official release page describes a work combining Yolŋu songs and chants with orchestral arrangements. That description places the music’s cultural foundations alongside the collaboration involved in making the recording.

The number-one result brought attention to an exceptional artist and to the presence of First Nations languages in Australian music. Language does not need a chart placing to have value. The achievement can be celebrated while recognising that the knowledge and authority behind the songs belong to particular people and communities.

Listen through authorised recordings and follow the guidance supplied by the artist’s official channels. Public availability is not permission to reproduce songs, translate lyrics, imitate ceremonial material or use cultural content in commercial designs. A listening activity should give credit and allow space for questions without expecting a First Nations participant to act as a cultural interpreter.

Reflecting and learning

What does this milestone tell us about the audiences that music can reach? How might a listener learn more while respecting the boundaries around cultural knowledge? Compare ARIA’s account of the chart result with the official album description.

Use this anniversary to recognise artistry, language and the work of the people involved in the recording. Avoid presenting the chart result as proof that barriers facing First Nations musicians or language communities have been resolved.

Sources and further reading

• Gurrumul takes out posthumous number-one album — ARIA
• Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) — Gurrumul official website
• About Gurrumul — Gurrumul Yunupingu Foundation

Our related products and resources

We do not currently offer products or learning resources specifically for this date. The reading links above are provided for background and further learning. Suitable items from our range will be added here as they become available.