Mandawuy Yunupingu is a crocodile man. Fire is his clan's symbol; for him fire is his lifeforce. The name Yunupingu means rock that will stand against anything. Mandawuy's skin name is Gudjuk (Hawk) and he took the name Mandawuy (Clay) in 1989 following the death of a man who shared his former name. His formal Yolngu name and spiritual identity is Maralitja.
Yunupingu has a BA from Deakin University and a honorary Doctorate from the Queensland University of Technology. He became the first Indigenous Australian principal, when he took on the role of principal at Yirrkala Primary School, the same school he attended as a child. Yunupingu is well known as a lead singer and songwriter for the successful Indigenous band Yothu Yindi. He was named Australian of the Year in 1992 and performed with Yothu Yindi at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
Australian Writing and Rock Music affiliation: vocals, songwriter.
