Gurrumul’s final album Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) sits atop the Australian charts

GURRUMUL’S final album Djarimirri, sung in the language of his Gumatj and Galpu clans, has held Ed Sheeran’s Divide off the top of the charts, thanks in part to a concerted fan campaign.

The final music statement from the Territory’s globally acclaimed artist Gurrumul has made Australian chart history to become the first indigenous-language album to debut at No.1.

Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow) held off the streaming juggernaut of Ed Sheeran’s Divide to claim the top spot after a week-long campaign by fans on social media to champion the ambitious masterpiece. It is the most unlikely album to top the pop charts, a bold blend of indigenous songs and chants in the language of his Gumatj and Galpu clans with intricate classical orchestral arrangements.

The distinctive patterns of the yidaki (the Yolngu name for their type of didgeridoo) were translated into charts for the cello to mimic the sound of the indigenous instrument.

Fans have been mesmerised by the unique bridging of the two musical worlds, with the album quickly claiming the No.1 spot on iTunes hours after its release on April 13.

It remained at the top spot throughout the week as people shared their love for the record and encouraged others to download it. The download and CD sales were strong enough to counter Sheeran’s continued chart dominance propelled by his thousands of streams each week in 2018.

Djarimirri, which features traditional songs about the crow, the octopus, freshwater, crocodile and sunset among other indigenous totems, was completed just days before Gurrumul’s death last July.