Project hopes Traditional Music Connects people to their Identity

Capturing the original narratives of our indigenous instruments before the arrival of Christianity and colonization, is what Tau’ili’ili Alpha Maiava is currently in Niue  for. 

The Indigenous Sounds of the Moana Project is focused around capturing oratory legends, myths and creating stories associated with 9 musical  instruments that are indigenous to the Moana Oceania region. 

The award-winning Niuean-Samoan is the host and co-producer for the SOUNZ podcast series-Sounds of the Moana that won Gold at the prestigious New York Festivals Radio Awards in 2022. 

BCN News caught up with Maiava and his film crew at the Taoga Niue, sharing more on the documenting of these Traditional instruments around the Pacific. 

Maiava says Niue’s unique instruments- the Kilikiliho or the nose flute is so rare, most locals don’t know that Niue has its own version.

“At the moment, Niue have in terms of its material culture ,what we do know is what Niueans call the Kilikilho that is the Niuean version of the nose flute.” he says.

The Project is the first of its kind, consisting of an 8 part series documentary by Sounz Centre for New Zealand Music, funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Culture and Heritage and set for an international release later this year. 

The Film crew will be visiting 11 Pacific countries for one on one interviews with current practitioners, makers and knowledge holders of the traditional instruments. 

“We have a lot of our kids who grow up outside the island, a lot of them don’t speak Vagahau Niue or different tongues, music is a communal sound that can help you attach to your identity,” he said.

Maiava has also been working closely with the Taoga Niue department over the past week to conduct his research on the traditional Niue instruments