NIMAs farewell Dr. G Yunupingu, as Cassar-Daley, A.B. Original take major wins

The 2017 National Indigenous Music Awards on Saturday night in Darwin provided the chance for the Indigenous and wider community to bid farewell to Dr. G. Yunupingu.

“I taught him three chords and he taught himself the rest,” his uncle Djunga Djunga Yunupingu said as part of an eloquent tribute.

Dr. G. Yunupingu’s family were earlier welcomed onto the stage by A.B. Original to join them in a version of ’The Hunt’.

One of the late musician’s early outfits, Saltwater Band, made an unexpected appearance to join in the celebration of his life of music, dance and spoken word under the stars at the Amphitheatre.

Dr. Yunupingu made his last major appearance at last year’s NIMAs, leaving hospital in a wheelchair for a few hours to accept the Artist of the Year trophy for the fifth time.

The night was also a cause for celebration, with Troy Cassar-Daley and A.B. Original the major winners.

Full list of winners:

ARTIST OF THE YEAR : Troy Cassar-Daley

SONG OF THE YEAR : A.B. Original ft. Dan Sultan – January 26

ALBUM OF THE YEAR : Things I Carry Around – Troy Cassar-Daley

NEW TALENT OF THE YEAR: Electric Fields

FILM CLIP OF THE YEAR: A.B. Original Ft. Dan Sultan – January 26

TRIPLE J UNEARTHED HIGH INDIGENOUS AWARD: Rebecca Hatch

COMMUNITY MUSIC CLIP OF THE YEAR: ’Save the Water (Ngaba)’ – Halls Creek Indigenous Hip Hop Project

One of the highlights of the night was Paul Kelly joining A.B. Original and Dan Sultan for their version of ’Dumb Things’.

Other performances were by Adelaide electro-soul duo Electric Fields, nominees Emily Wurramara and Apakatjah,and last year’s new talent winner Gawurra.

The NIMAs compilation The Sound of Indigenous Australia double CD in conjunction with Warner Music Australia is out now.

It features tracks from this year’s winners, nominees and performers including A.B. Original, Cassar-Daley, Sultan, Yirrmal, Wurramara, Gawurra, Apakatjah, Jessica Mauboy, Busby Marou, Leah Flanagan, Tia Gostelow and Electric Fields.

Disc two features anthems of Indigenous Australia including Yothu Yindi’s ‘Treaty’, Archie Roach’s ‘Took the Children Away’, Christine Anu’s ‘My Island Home’, Warumpi Band’s ‘Blackfella/Whitefella’ and Kev Carmody’s ‘From Little Things Big Things Grow.