THEIR song Kua ni vakatagici au is a local hit at the moment on the air and in nightclubs around Fiji, not forgetting overseas where many Fijians tune in daily.
The Seniboro Junior Group has been making waves at every functions and events with a song that is close to their composer Eminoni Qaralawaki’s heart. The six-member group was seen performing up in Vanuakula in Naitasiri when The Fiji Times team arrived there.
The 48-year-old could only smile when he was asked about the story behind the song which captured listeners with its sad tone and lyrics.
“The song is about my niece. She had just gotten married and settled down with her husband, and not before long their firstborn son was born. But when their son was just five months old, her husband said that he had to travel out. He went but never returned. She heard later that he was living with another woman on another island. She came to me with a broken heart and asked that I compose her story.
“The beginning of the song goes Ko sega ni bau tukuna ni ko sa mai gole vakadua me’u rawa ni tukuna vei iko na watiqu … it tells her story,” said Eminoni after a brief pause.
Kua ni vakatagici au in the iTaukei language means don’t make me cry — referring to the woman’s hurt at the deception carried out by her husband.
It speaks volume of Eminoni’s talent in capturing a story and spinning it into a song.
Eminoni, who hails from Sawanikula, Wainimala in Naitasiri, says he has been involved with music since high school.
“I’ve sung at hotels, resorts, and nightclubs. Then I started to compose songs as a part-time thing to my yaqona farming. I realised it was something I really cared about and I have gone serious into composing songs. I composed songs for the Drodrolagi mai na Delai na Va group from the village and another group the Miramira Seniboro’s volume one and two albums.
“I sang briefly with the Voqa Vou ni Medrausucu then we had a falling out over the composing issues. So I told my children that I would compose our own songs. We put together the Seniboro Junior Group in 2017 and we’ve never looked back since.”
The group is consists of his son and nephews. According to Eminoni, the name of their group —Seniboro comes from the name of their yavusa or clan. It is also the name of their totem plant.
“The success of our song has really opened doors for us,” said Eminoni.
“Our production company has made it free for us to produce our second album which we are quite excited about.
“This song Kua ni vakatagici au has really marketed us in Fiji and overseas,” he said with a smile.
The group launched their second album on Friday, May 4.
