In 1980, two teenage brothers emerged out of relative obscurity and took the iTaukei music scene by storm.
Tevita and Akuila Vakaduadua, who were 17 and 15 at the time, came straight out of Naqeledamu Village, Tailevu and recorded original songs and a handful of evergreen tunes that went straight to the top of the Fijian music charts.
Their rendition of Isa Sobo Kara Noqu Daulomani remains one of the most popular versions of the song.
“During our young days growing up in Naqeledamu, our father bought us a guitar and a ukulele,” shared Tevita, now 57.
“That is where our love of music came from.
“Once we had our own instruments, we learnt how to play with the help of our dad.”
Originally from Sawani Village, the two brothers were brought up at Naqeledamu Village and later moved to Waibau past Navatuvula Village where they had purchased a piece of land.
Tevita said by chance, their harmonies caught the attention of one of Fiji’s music greats, Waisea Vatuwaqa.
He took the brothers to his new studio – Lali Recording – and got down to business.
Tevita said they recorded 10 songs with ‘Wise’ in 1980 and by 1981, the Vuna Brothers was a household name across the country.
“We brought in four old songs like Isa Sobo Kara Noqu Dau Lomani, Isa Isa Noqu Dia Daulomani and Sa Cala Na Noqu Nanuma and the rest we composed ourselves.
“Recording with Wise was like being with a professor in the classroom, the way he put the music together and got us to sing, we couldn’t believe it when he played the final mix for us.
“When we listened to the recording, we thought there were three voices singing the songs because of how lively the instruments were played.”
He added when they listened carefully, there were only two voices singing.
Tevita said Akuila sang the low notes (tenor) and he sang the high notes (soprano).
He said when their music was released, they were invited to perform at many events.
Tevita said they went to Nadi and practised with a hotel band for a week before performing there and did the same in Ba.
He said the bands they practised with had to work really hard to get the music right because Fiji’s top artists played on their album.
The Vuna Brothers’ recording featured Fiji’s premier keyboard player Tui Ravai, seasoned musician Vili Tuilaucala laid down the guitar lines, Samisoni Waqa played bass and the inimitable Sakiusa Bulicokocoko was behind the drums and added the bouncy grooves to all their tracks.
“Music gave us a lot, we experienced a lot of things and got to go around to new places where we had never been before.
“After our first recording, we planned to do another one but the amount of invitations to go and perform at other places made it hard for us to do another one.
“For instance, when we went to Nadi, Ba and Sigatoka, we spent nearly three months and in that time, we forgot about recording because we were enjoying our tour so much.
“We still have new songs with us and are planning to do another recording when the time is right.”
Mr Vakaduadua said he tended to his farm in Waibau at the moment and his brother was a vendor at the Suva Municipal Market.
The Vuna Brothers are married and have families to take care of.
Tevita said he was teaching his son to play the guitar and sometimes, they practised the songs that he and Akuila became known for in the 80s.
His only advice to youths with dreams of venturing into music is “if an opportunity comes your way, grab it and don’t let it slip away”.
He said there were times he and Akuila spoke about their younger days and how popular the Vuna Brothers were and he thanked God they were still alive today to tell their story.
