Page 10 - IB November 2024

We Say

WHEN ISSUES FIND VOICE

By Netani Rika However, Indonesia – supported by the United States, the
United Kingdom, Australia and the United Nations would
As an oral people, Pacific islanders often put their thoughts kill the young nation and its dreams in a flawed referendum
into words and later into song or chants. designed to form a strategic alliance against communism.
These cries from the soul speak to the issues which trouble As a refugee, Voice of Lele’s album will be a powerful tool
indigenous people – colonisation, suppression of indigenous in the decolonisation arsenal of Pacific campaigners whose
rights, poverty, alienation in their own land. governments – apart from Vanuatu – have remained silent on
In a liquid continent where extractive industry is rife and human rights abuse in West Papua.
foreigners take the profits and leave the local landowners Ironically, Lele performed at the Australian Prime Minister’s
with a pittance, songs are sometimes the only avenue of Olympic Dinner earlier this year when Australia itself refuses
protest. to recognise the plight of her people.
Industrial action would lead to suppression at the hands Across the water in Kanaky (New Caledonia), rapper Ybal
of the State-sponsored police and military, controlled by Khan keeps indigenous hopes of freedom alive with songs like
politicians in the pockets of foreign investors. ‘Ici est Kanaky’ (This is Kanaky) and ‘Determine’, speaking
So, the songs of protest and freedom are often sung by directly to the issues which affect life in the French territory
Pasifika people outside the region. and the struggle for independence.
Out of West Papua comes Lele or Voice of Lele, Australian Reggae group Vamaley also articulates the Kanaky using
based and daughter of Augustinus Rumwaropen who fronted French and indigenous languages to drive messaging.
the band Black Brothers, which revolutionised the music scene The Fijian group Malumu Ni Tobu with Dua Nai Katolu
in West Papua in the 1980s. (One Third) has dared raise the issues of poverty, oppression
Her new Biak-language single, ‘Jow Manfun’ (God, we are and the misfortune of an indigenous youth who fill the jails
grateful) blends island pop reggae with gospel influences and because of a life of crime or drugs.
will be launched on December 1, West Papua’s National Day. In 1987, the Fijian reggae group, Rootstrata, sang of an
Biak is Lele’s ancestral home and was the scene of a massacre indigenous people who felt marginalised by what they saw as
in July 1988 when Papuans were fired upon by Indonesian an immigrant population which controlled the economy and
security forces for raising the West Papuan Morning Star flag. opportunities.
“My father taught it to me as a child - it’s a tune that ties Their ‘O Cei O ira Mera Mai Lewa’ (Who are they to Control
us to our roots and culture,’’ Lele said in a media release Us) became the anthem of ethno-nationalists.
ahead of the launch. Across the Pacific, music has the power to influence and
“This release represents a powerful connection to my lyrics provide an audible measure for politicians to gauge the
heritage, reflecting my faith and pride in our people.” feelings of the people and the issues of concern.
But it’s the date of the launch—December 1—that is the Of course, that is, if the people are allowed to sing and the
political statement. For on that day in 1961, West Papua leaders dare to listen.
received its autonomy from the Dutch colonial rulers.

10 Islands Business, November 2024