TODAY is the day!
Get ready to bring your energy, your family, and your good vibes to Suva’s Buckhurst Park because the much-anticipated WANFIRE concert kicks off at 1pm sharp.
WANFIRE is shaping up to be more than just a concert, it’s going to be a vibrant celebration of community, culture, and the unstoppable power of the arts to uplift and unite.
Reverend James Bhagwan, a passionate advocate of Fiji’s creative talents, sums it up powerfully: “The arts in Fiji are not an ‘extra’. They are community development, how we gather, heal, learn, work, and lift each other.”
He describes WANFIRE as “more than a line-up, it’s a circle, one fire, one beat, one space where aunties hum harmonies, toddlers dance on mats, and young artists see their gifts have a home here”.
This spirit of connection is no accident. It’s the result of a year-long journey through a flourishing creative landscape across Fiji.
From Raiwaqa’s Poji’s Lament, a free, family-friendly gathering that turned the market grounds into a festival of courage and care, to Nadi’s Homecoming event honouring jazz legend Tom Mawi and George ‘Fiji’ Veikoso, the arts have been stitching neighbourhoods closer together.
“We’ve watched that circle grow all year. People brought a mat, a basin, and the whole family while bands rolled from afternoon into night,” Mr Bhagwan said.
“That’s live social positivity: a neighbourhood field becoming a choir of neighbours.”
The momentum continues with events like ResFest, which packed the Vodafone Arena in June with homegrown acts, proving Fiji’s original music scene needs no imported stars.
Meanwhile, the Fiji Fringe expanded the artistic lens further in March and April, showcasing hundreds of artists and injecting more than $55,000 directly into the creative economy.
This blossoming ecosystem thrives on diversity and innovation.
“Our choirs fly the flag too. PrimaNavia brought home gold at the 2024 World Choir Games, proof that disciplined Pacific harmony stands on any stage.
“And Suva proved we can mount a full musical theatre at home – Mamma Mia! filled the Civic (centre) in February, local cast, local crews, sold-out joy.”
The festival invites everyone to “come as you are, bring the family”, and experience a day where Pacific artists take centre stage and local crews, vendors, and volunteers get meaningful work.
WANFIRE also serves as a launchpad for local talent, with acts like the Spectrum Collective stepping straight from the festival stage to their headline show, Return of the Dragon, on October 9 at the Yat Sen Hall.
And the excitement won’t stop there, as the FMF Uprising Music Festival returns to Pacific Harbour on November 1, offering family activities and a main stage filled with vibrant live performances.
Rev Bhagwan emphasises that the arts are far more than entertainment, they are vital for community development.
“A band room is a leadership lab: punctuality, shared credit, courage to try again. A dance company is a health program: stamina, focus, responsibility to a team.
“An open mic is a civics class: say something true without demeaning anyone, then listen.
“Every stage hires sound and light techs, stagehands, drivers, vendors, security, photographers, videographers. Tickets and sponsorships turn fragile dreams into day jobs.
“When families show up, toddlers on shoulders, grandparents in cardigans, we tell young people, ‘Your voice belongs here. Your story matters here.’ That public endorsement is priceless.”
Looking ahead, Rev Bhagwan calls for sustained support for Fiji’s arts through predictable funding like micro-grants, fair pay and venue subsidies.
He emphasises building pathways such as mentorships, school-to-stage programs, and safe, inclusive community studios.
Celebrating cultural pride, he urges showcasing iTaukei, Fiji Hindi, Rotuman, and Pacific languages on main stages, and fostering collaborations across art forms.
Key upcoming events include Spectrum’s Return of the Dragon on October 9 at the Yat Sen Hall, and the FMF Uprising Music Festival on November 1 at Pacific Harbour.
Rev Bhagwan’s message is clear: “Show up. Buy the ticket if you can. Share the clip if you can’t. Bring the cousins. Bring the elders. Bring your good heart.”
As WANFIRE kicks off, it promises to be more than a festival, it’s a movement for a creative and kind Fiji. See you there!
