Guitar accolade surprises Terio
Terio Phillip Junior Vakatawa Dagoniyasi, who won the Tom Mawi Guitar Award as part of the Fiji Performing Rights Association (FPRA) Awards on Saturday night at Suva’s Grand Pacific Hotel, received a guitar as a prize.
The 25-year-old of Nukutubu in Rewa is happy and excited.
“I did not expect to win this award.
When my name was announced I was surprised,” Mr Dagoniyasi said.
He began playing the guitar when he was only seven years old. “There was no one to teach me how to play guitar, I am selftaught,” the former Votualevu College student said.
His inspiration for playing guitar is Jimi Hendrix, an American rock guitarist, singer and songwriter. Mr Dagoniyasi is married with an eight-month-old daughter Litiana.
OTHER AWARDEES
Best iTaukei song winner: Na Moli
Koula by Voqa Ni Delai Dokidoki and the late composer Etonia Lote Snr presented by the iTaukei Land Trust Board. Best Hindi song: Aye Autaar Dhar, winner Praneel Sami Don, composer Umest Nandan presented by Exotic Music Fiji. Best English song: Coconut Bubbling
by Big Wilz, composer William Waqanibaravi presented by Vatuvara Private Islands. Best Gospel song: Yaloqu E Tagica
Tu winner DokiDoki Gospel composer Vilimone Lote presented by New Methodist Christian Fellowship. Best hip hop song: Flags in the
Air winner Drixstar (Feat. Tropic Thunda) composer Andrew Bolakoro & George Wasile presented by Fintel. Best recording engineer: Freddy Suka presented by Department of Heritage & Arts. Tom Mawi guitar award: Terio Phillip Junior Vakatawa Dagoniyasi presented by Taylor Guitars. Most popular song: Vaka Me Veilaroi winner Nasio Domoni presented by Communications Fiji Limited. Best rapper award: Andrew Chung Most popular music video: Misunderstood by Savuto (Feat. DJ Ritendra) presented by Vodafone Fiji. Best new artist: Natalie Raikadroka presented by Fijian Holdings Limited Best artist of the year: Voqa Ni Delai Dokidoki presented by Fiji Performing Rights Association
Best composition (Premiere award):
Seven by Elena (Feat. Pauliasi) composer Elena Baravilala presented by The Hot Bread Kitchen. Outstanding Service to Fijian Music:
Iliesa Baravilala presented by Sun Insurance. Hall of Fame inductee: The late Etonia Lote (SNR) presented by Fijian Teachers Association.
The International Achievement Award: Daniel Rae Costello presented by APRA AMCOS.
Edited by Epineri Vula