FOR Ratu Peni Bainiyasikula Salatubalevu, music has become more than a performance.
It has opened doors to places he might otherwise never have seen and given him a role in keeping Fiji’s traditions alive.
From Wailevu Village in Cakaudrove, Vanua Levu, with maternal links to Suweni Village in Wairiki, Cakaudrove, Ratu Peni is a member of the National Youth Brass Marching Band.
His journey with the band began with training in 2022 before he officially became a member in 2023.
“I’ve learned a lot being part of the National Youth Band, it has allowed me to be part of many important events associated with youth development in the country,” he said.
Among those events was the Navosa Youth Festival at Vatureba Park, Navosa this week.
The opportunities have also taken him around Fiji including Rotuma, allowing him to showcase what he describes as the real representation of Fiji.
His instrument is the baritone, a medium-low brass instrument whose pitch range sits between the higher tenor and lower bass.
But his connection to music extends beyond brass.
Ratu Peni also participates in a traditional meke dance group and sings old traditional songs; activities he believes are important in reviving traditions that are slowly dying out.
He is also part of Dolce Sounds Dulali Group, a Fijian performing arts organisation dedicated to preserving, elevating and teaching indigenous traditional folk singing, choral harmony and cultural meke dances.
One of his most memorable performances was at the Pacific Ministers Youth Meeting held in Fiji last year.
His work also takes him into youth awareness activities, where the message is clear: young people should move away from substance abuse and focus on education and sports.
His journey has not always been uninterrupted.
He began attending classes at the National Youth Council of Fiji in Valelevu in 2020, but returned to his village when COVID-19 struck. He later returned and completed his studies.
He was also involved in the Ministry of Justice’s Constitution Review Commission youth consultation, representing the Tovata Confederacy before being sent to Lomaiviti.
At home, he is known for creating happy moments, something he said he learnt from his father.
“I’ve always been known as someone who is always happy and like to create happy moments,” he said.
For Ratu Peni, that joy is something worth sharing with others.
