Last week we turned back the pages of time in the life of Metuisela To’amotu’a Kawa Mafili, the composer of many popular iTaukei gospel songs.
Unfortunately, the iconic composer died last year but left behind a wealth of songs and memories which his wife and children relayed to The Fiji Times.
His daughter Stephani Mafili said before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Mafili had a dream of a mass gathering of people where they were forced to adhere and obey a certain rule.
The dream reminded him of the biblical story of King Nebuchadnezzar in the Old Testament and his dream which reminded the king of the need to humble himself before God.
Stephani said her father in this dream saw that in the not-too-distant future, citizens would have to bow to certain worldly rules and when he woke up the morning after, he started composing a song based on the dream.
A year after his dream, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and a mass vaccination program was imposed in Fiji and in many other countries around the world.
Mafili composed Nepukanesa and the song became an instant hit. Even today it is used in many churches as a worship song, and the lyrics describe how thousands of Fijians were forced to get vaccinated even though many did not want to.
The original version was sung by him and his New Way Church group members.
“When the pandemic hit, the song was already written and ready to be released,” Stephani said.
“We were quite amazed when we heard the song itself and how he was able to come up with the lyrics and how it described the events that unfolded in Fiji during the pandemic.
“And we were also quite surprised with how this song has been a hit in many churches these days. We only wish he was still alive to witness how the song composed out of a dream is now a hit among thousands of worshippers.”
Nepukanesa was just one of the many gospel numbers the late Mafili released over the past three decades.
“He never wanted to share his story, he never wanted to be known, his motive was just that people get to enjoy the songs and the messages behind the compositions.
“We are so happy that we are able to be given this platform via this newspaper to share his story in his memory because he deserves that recognition like many others.
“He was a man of integrity, a humble gentleman who dedicated his life to the church and to composing gospel numbers and church hymns around the country.”
For years Christians have been moved to worship the creator to songs such as Sai Kemuni, Nepukanesa, Era meke mai na Isireli and Sa Curumi Samisoni with no knowledge of the man who composed them.
He believed the songs he composed were not his, but were inspired by God to worship him for all the little everyday things that people took for granted.
Mafili believed he was blessed with music to share the Word of God, and that it should never be about him, the composer.
Related article:
https://www.fijitimes.com/blessed-with-music-mafili-will-forever-be-remembered-for-his-songs/
