WHEN Viliame Ratuva steps on to the stage at the FPRA 2015 Music Awards on Saturday, he will be continuing a legacy that began with his ancestors from Nakorovou in Rewa at the dawn of civilisation in the country.
Nakorovou is home to some of the pioneers of iTaukei music including renowned gospel group the Vuniyavu Church choir and popular music artist Seru Serevi.
In fact Via Ni Tebara was also the name of Ratuva’s father’s musical group from the ’60s.
“This band is named after a very famous band from the village which started composing in the very early 1960s,” said veteran musician and FPRA Music Awards co-ordinator Seru Serevi.
“In those days groups like Via Ni Tebara used to tune up outside Radio ZJV and perform live inside the studio which was based inside the building which houses Fintel today.
“This was way before Radio Fiji was established.
“In many ways, Via Ni Tebara set the platform for us — the musicians from Rewa — and we are just trying to continue the work they started more than 50 years ago.”
Serevi explained the name of the band was derived from a root crop called the via.
“It’s like a type of dalo that thrives in the Rewa Delta and it’s known as a food for all seasons,” he explained.
“The via can withstand any type of natural disaster including floods, droughts and cyclones.
“It can sustain people through hardship and brings fulfillment and that is what the music from Via Ni Tebara is also bringing to the people of Fiji.”
For Ratuva, the leader of the new look Via Ni Tebara, being nominated for three awards — Most Popular Song, Best ITaukei Song and Best New Artist — is a fitting tribute to the legacy his ancestors and elders had passed on through the generations.
“We’re doing this first and foremost to honour God, the source of all music and also to honour our elders and our village and finally our country. We’re up against some very strong competition but I know that we should be able to snatch at least two awards this year,” the 24-year-old said.
Since their genesis in 2011, Via Ni Tebara has emerged from obscurity to become one of the most sought-after groups in the country.
Rarawa Ni Yalo Oqo, the reggae-influenced hit single from the group’s second album — Jemesa Na Luvequ — has notched more than 145,000 views on YouTube and CD sales are going through the roof.
“The album was named in tribute to a very close friend, he developed cancer and passed away and his mother asked that we dedicate our second album to him.”
Via Ni Tebara is made up of Vili Ratuva, Tevita Bulai, Paula Dabea, Sekove Tulele and Filimone Serevi.
Jemesa Na Luvequ was produced by Samuela Saumatua Ratuva.
The album was recorded at Studio 7 in Nakorovou.
“We are working on our next album and hope to have it ready by November, in time for Christmas.”
There is no doubt that Via Ni Tebara will raise the roof when they perform at Fiji music’s biggest calendar event on Saturday night at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva.
Another industry veteran, Saimone Vuatalevu said the FPRA 2015 Music Awards this year would continue its trend of honouring composers and musicians from the past who had contributed to the advancement of the industry over the years.
“Our Hall of Fame nominees this year represents the wide range of genres, styles and languages that Fiji music encompasses,” he said.
“This year we will honour four composers who have played a big part in the development of local music.
“The nominees are Reverend W Bennet, who played a huge role in the composition and translation of iTaukei Methodist hymns, Satvik Dass, a man who has composed a lot of popular Hindi music and songs, Jolame Rokodrega, composer for renowned local group Bua Ni Lomai Nabua who wrote hit songs such as Lewa Lei Lewa and Ro Cava Raicebe, who was a founding member of legendary iTaukei band, Caucau Ni Waimanu.”
Vuatalevu said individually, the five nominees created music of different genres — from Hindi music to gospel and right through to popular iTaukei tunes that continued to be enjoyed today.
“But collectively, they have helped bring Fiji music to where it is today by playing their part in the music jigsaw puzzle that has created a vibrant and growing industry as the pieces were put together.”
The Fiji Performing Rights Association’s says the FPRA Music Awards will continue to build and evolve into an international type of event but it would never lose its Fijian flavour.
“We have already begun preparations for the event, the sound and light show will be like no other and we would like to acknowledge Stage Tech for the lengths they’re taking to make the FPRA 2015 Music Awards the biggest show on the local music calendar,” he shared.
One Fijian who is poised to take flight on the international stage — Inoke Kalounisiga, better known as Knox — will also be performing at the event.
After featuring in several high-profile shows overseas, Knox said the professionalism that FPRA was bringing to the event was very encouraging.
“I believe this is a very good thing for the emerging industry that we have here,” he said.
“It rewards the hard work being done by up-and-coming artists and acknowledges those who have gone before us and those who showed uncompromising commitment to get the industry where it’s at today.
“I’m proud to be a part of the FPRA 2015 Music Awards because it provides a platform for healthy competition and plays a big role in developing the industry into the future.”
Along with Knox, two other feature artists on the night include Sydney-based band Takia and Fiji’s first music pop star, George Knight.
* The Fiji Times is a sponsor of the FPRA
2015 Music Awards
