Gurrumul has been awarded an honorary doctorate in Music from the University of Sydney.

After performing for His Royal Highness Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at the Opera House, Gurrumul was presented with his Doctorate alongside other Australian and international leaders including actor Cate Blanchett, author Kate Grenville and Nobel Prize winner Prof John Warren.

In the magnificent grounds of the historic university with the jacaranda in full bloom, Gurrumul donned full academic dress and joined the procession led by the University of Sydney Chancellor and Governor of New South Wales - Professor Marie Bashir. Skinnyfish Managing Director and adopted ‘father’ Mark Grose, led Gurrumul by the hand to accept this honour before sending his voice soaring through the antiquity of the Great Hall in an acoustic performance of ‘Bapa’ and ‘Baru’.

“This is a cultural recognition and therefore honour for Gurrumul,” said Michael Hohnen. “Mark and I have often thought that there is an encyclopedic body of knowledge inside this man’s head and his culture. He sees this as recognition of Yolngu knowledge embodied in his clans’ songs and history. And we have explained that it is also the university acknowledging the cultural and artistic contribution to the history of Australian music.”

Gurrumul’s Honorary Doctorate introduction :
From a place of cultural depth and beauty, in a remote part of Arnhemland, on an island off the coast of the Northern Territory, Gurrumul has produced a remarkable body of work and contribution to contemporary Australian culture. From him playing on "Treaty" and "Tribal Voice" - one of the most popular breakthrough albums in the Australian Music Industry , to 20 years later making his own uncompromising solo body of work, (often termed ‘arias of Arnhemland’) this blind, left handed guitarist described by journalist Bruce Elder as "the greatest voice this country has ever recorded"  has unassumingly embedded himself in Australian history, and his family are immensely proud of this.

Over the past five years travelling the world to tour his platinum and triple platinum albums, playing for Barack Obama, and Her Majesty The Queen at her Diamond Jubilee this year, Gurrumul has provided a voice for Australia and at the same time for his clan, telling stories of culture and knowledge that Australia may proudly present for years to come.

Gurrumul and didgeridoo virtuoso Mark Atkins performed alongside Indian sitarist Anoushka Shankar at an Australian cultural festival in India last week launched by Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

The festival opening concert was held in front of Delhi’s Sher Mandal Observatory of Purana Qila which became a moving canvas of 3D light projections as images of the Australian landscape, Aboriginal art and Indian iconography, designed by the producers of Sydney's Vivid Light Festival transformed the historic Indian monument.

Michael Hohnen who travelled and performed with Gurrumul was amazed at his response to his first trip to the sub-continent. “He loves India, we have never known him to be so excited about another country. He insisted on wearing full Indian dress for his performance and he joined me in a traditional 'Namaste" greeting at the beginning and end of the show. He has now spoken to us about travelling back to record in this environment that he felt was very similar to his home of Galiwin'ku in Northern Australia, and asked about recording new material in India in the future. Gurrumul loves the shehnai, an instrument full of traditional character and expression that was highlighted in Anoushka's band during our concert."

While it was a first-time experience for Gurrumul, he had heard many stories about India as his aunty travelled there from Elcho Island many years ago, returning with a fascination and love of Bollywood dance and culture that Gurrumul’s family still enjoy today.

For a detailed story of the India journey and beautiful photos, go to  Simon de Trey-White’s blog “A Delhi Photographer’s Blog”
http://simondetreywhite.com/wordpress/?p=415