Unforgettable classics
WITH the rise of new music artists in Fiji’s ever evolving music industry, it is important to acknowledge the impact of senior musicians and those who came before them. Their footprints have left a mark for budding singers to follow and a standard for them to surpass.
In the late 1970s, at Tovu on Totoya in Lau, four young men formed a sigidrigi band out of their passion for music. They would play at village functions or around a basin of yaqona to keep the villagers entertained.
They were Samuela Waqabaca, Joji Mawi, Aisea Lutu, Semiti Turagarere and their manager at the time, Senirusi Sevutia.
In 1983, they decided to take the next step and sought the blessings of their chief, Turaga Rokosau Rusiate Sogotubu, to pursue their music career. Along with his blessing, he named the group Voqa Ni U’a kei Davetatabu, meaning “sounds of waves from the sacred reef”.
The group said the blessings from the vanua played an immense role in their success.
In 1984, they ventured to the mainland for an opportunity to record at a radio station.
At the time, assistance was provided for budding singers to record at the Fiji Broadcasting Commission and they were paid $10 per song. They had sought their fare with plans of residing with relatives in Suva. They brought coconut oil, brooms and seafood to cater for their stay.
After successfully recording two volumes, the group went back to the island to recuperate and write more lyrics before returning to the mainland for volumes three and four. This went on for quite some time, and to date, the group has recorded a total of nine volumes.
Some of their well-known hits are Noqu Vakawati, Sere ni Davetatabu, Liwavi au na ceva mai Kadavu, Paralase voli, E mai matamataqu voli and Isa na gauna sa sivi, while Mosese and Tevita were adapted from the Bible.
To date, these songs remain classical favorites.
Group member Semisi Turagarere says that like any other artist, they are storytellers, and their songs are derived from real happenings in their lives, the lives of people around them or on some piece of history.
Ko a mai cikeva tikoga vei au was penned by the late Samuela Waqabaca, which was a tribute to his marriage life. Mocemoce qai kida ena mataka recalls the story of Thomas Baker.
Sere ni Davetatabu (Song of the Sacred Reef) acknowledges the history of Tovu Village’s first settlers as their sacred reef was the resting place of their stillborn son.
Turagarere says the song E mai matamataqu voli was originally written by singer and songwriter Etonia Vuli, the father of the Dokidoki Brothers.
Between 1984 and 1987, they received a lot of positive feedback for their songs. They were also invited by prominent figures to play at certain events; they once played at the late Tui Nayau, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara’s birthday, the late Tui Cakau, Ratu
Peniaia Ganilau’s birthday, and during the installation of the Tui Cakau.
Straight after the 1987 coup, they were invited by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to serenade at his late father’s birthday and were also requested by Mr Rabuka to write a song about his close friend Manasa Tokalautala, the grandfather of star rugby league player Jaryd Hayne.
Their influence and fame spread all over the country. They won Best Composer in 1986 for the song Mosese and came second at a music competition at Suva’s Civic
Centre where they performed one of their best tunes, Au Paralase Voli.
However, in 1989 the music came to a halt when some of the members had started families of their own while their lead singer, Samuela Waqabaca, went on to pursue his music career with the Fiji Police Reconciliation Band.
Turagarere says that although the band had split up, they still receive letters from fans to regroup.
This came true 32 years later when Turagarere came up with the idea of a reunion.
“From what I’ve observed, people still listen to our songs and have reached out inviting us to play at their family-related events,” he says.
The group serenaded at a family function in which their song Isa na Gauna sa Sivi received huge feedback on social media.
For a comeback, there was a surge of demand for the Voqa ni U’a kei Davetatabu, depicting a shift in people’s taste in music for the classics. Since their reunion, the group, now in their late early ’70s, has been invited to many family events and fundraisers.
Their reunion was short but sweet. Last year, sadness struck as lead singer Samuela Waqabaca passed away.
“Samu’s passing took away a part of us.
“He is irreplaceable. His talent and his personality are something we will never forget.”
Vude Queen Laisa Vulakoro also paid tribute to Waqabaca in a Facebook post last year.
It took a while for the group to replace Waqabaca, bearing in mind that no one could be compared with a man of his talent and calibre. However, after careful consideration, Jerry Vakawaletabua joined the group as lead singer last year.
Vakawaletabua is not new to the music world as he had started young as well. His hit single E vei na Noqu Dina I na Watiqu is frequently played during kava sessions, on a bus ride or played simultaneously by iTaukei radio stations.
The group has been around for more than 43 years and hopes their story will be a source of inspiration for young boys on the island to put their God-given talents to good use.
Through their talent, they have managed to travel around the country, meet new people, and forge unforgettable bonds along the way.