A Poetic History (book)
Bittersweet was published to mark the 125th anniversary of the arrival
of the first Girmityas from India to Fiji. It's an essential read
for anyone wanting to better understand the place and experiences
of Indo-Fijians since then. It opens with a moving recounting of a
man's search for knowledge about his great-grandfather who came to
Fiji in the late 1800s, and was hanged for murder under still-questionable
circumstances in "Voices from the Past" by Praveen Chandra and Saras
Chandra. Bitteraweet then moves through tales of boarding school,
farming, neighborhoods and villages, and soccer. In style the contributions
range from scholarly and well researched, to poignant personal tales;
punctuated with poetry and photographs. The tone changes with the
items from after the coup of 1987, including one written by former
Fiji Times editor Vijendra Kumar, who's sadness and disappointment
is still palpable. It's edited by Brij V. Lal and highly recommended.
www.pandanusbooks.com.au
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Ka Kino to Pounamu (art)
Famous Pacific and Maori artists collaborate to explore their engagement
with indigenous and Western Art. Among those featured are Reuben Paterson,
Cook Islander Ani O’Neill, Rotuman Sofia Teleka-Smith, Fiona Pardington,
Lisa Reihana and Niuean John Pule, who had a teaching residency at
the University of the South Pacific’s Oceania Centre for the Arts
some years back. Their work originally went to the Palau Pacific Arts
Festival as part of the Aetearoa body of work.
Main Gallery, Auckland Art Gallery Oct. 9- Jan. 30 2005
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Flavorsome Travels
The Miss Tutti Frutti Contest: Travel Tales of the South Pacific is
a gentle read. It details the travels of New Zealand author Graeme
Lay through Polynesia: Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, the Marquesas and Cook
Islands. Lay has an affectionate eye and some good yarns, but this
volume likely has more appeal for visitors rather than residents of
the region, as it skims the surface rather than plumbing any depths.
Awa Press, NZ $29.95
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A Soulful Collaboration (cd)
"Pacific Soul-The Collaboration", a Pacific Dreams release, brings
together the artists of Pacific Soul and Jamoa Jam-making for sweet
harmonies. A mixture of Samoan and English vocals range from lilting
ballads to funkier rhythm and blues tracks-all with distinctive multi-part
harmonies. The New Zealand based group has a big following in the
islands, particularly Samoa.
Pacific Dream, NZ $28.80
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