Papua New Guinean (PNG) musicians, along with artists from neighboring Australia came together recently to compose a track that encourages people to stand up for their communities.
The track titled Wan Solwara (One Ocean) was co-written by Bougainvillea musician turned MP Morris Opeti and well-known all-rounder PNG musician Mr. Richard Mogu.
It features Adrian Tjupurrula (Tjupurru) Fabila and his son Jake Tjupurru, who are Djabera Djabera people of the West Australian Kimberly, as well as Michael Dave, Ruth Maison, Walter Kerevio, Jolista Masu, Robertha Yansi, and Milton Garea.
Tjupurru was born in Port Moresby and has family connections to Central Province and Bougainville, so he was determined that his son Jake should be part of the exchange and “carry the spear forward”.
“It makes me so happy that the young Bougainvillean musicians are so passionate and strong in their culture. Now we’ve established a musical and cultural bridge between Australia and Bougainville, and we can keep building on that foundation.”
Other contributors included Tsarlayse Iamu and Kawas Band and saw the production saw the use of mainly traditional and contemporary instruments including bamboo pipes, and didjeribone (a cross between a didjeridu and a trombone). The track was recorded in Bougainville in September 2022.
This initiative was organized through Australia’s Development Assistance office in Buka, supported through public diplomacy funds and the Australian funded Bougainville Partnership Youth Initiative, in partnership with the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and Wantok Musik.