Solomon Islands

In 1991 I visited the Solomon Islands, after having made contact with Laurence Foanata of the Solomon Islands Museum and Brother Paul Murphy from St. Josephs Tenaru school.

Laurence sent me a post card of some pan pipers and some general cultural information and Brother Paul encouraged me to come and hear the wonderful music of the Tenaru pan pipers.

I visited the school and gave a solo improvised performance and was then rewarded with a showing of the overwhelmingly beautiful music of the Tenaru pan pipers.The music and friendliness of the students and teaching staff was touching and inspiring, and so I decided to approach the Australian High Commission for assistance to put on a public performance.

The Commission agreed to sponsor the event, hiring sound and lighting equipment, and inviting dignitaries and the public to attend the concert. Over 230 performers and a full house ensued months of preparation by us all. Special thanks went to Joseph Nielsen who did the bulk of the organisation.

Also of close involvement in that performance were the amazing dancers and performers of a multitude of different customs from the Solomon Islands. It was a night that I shall never forget.

My fellow musicians Selwyn Talasasa and Roger Rosser (who also generously welcomed me into his home and life), helped me to perform some pieces on pan pipes and digeridoo.

I would also like to remember, and thank Mr. Paoni for his stories, friendship and for allowing me to live on his traditional land (Pelevo Island for nearly a month...) as this was a time of great learning and creativity for me. Solomon Samba and Old Man Paoni on the new Tok Pan Tok CD, Eyes of a Child and Pelevo Outer Space from the previously released CD, Ma Fren were all songs composed whilst living on Pelevo Island. I also acknowledge Richard Cormier, a close friend now lost to the ether of transience, who shared that magical time on Pelevo Island.

Ronald Buaoka was another of the endless positive lights during my time in the Solomons. He worked for the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Commission and invited us to record some pieces for broadcast at the stations excellently equipped recording studios.

Steven Wainai, a student of St. Josephs and one of the wonderful pan pipers, very generously invited me to stay at his traditional home on the island of Malaita. I felt privileged to have this experience. I also received help from Don Pororasu at a village nearby Honiara.

I now envisage returning to the Solomons in 2002 to collaborate with local musicians to create some new music and networks for future projects. If you are a musician from the Solomon Islands, or someone who would like to become involved in this project, please contact me in the Your Information page or via email: pete@panpeople.com.au

My intended itinerary was to have the Solomon Islands as the first stop of the Fellowship project. Sadly, due to the 'tensions', I decided to change plans at the last moment, and start in Bolivia and end in the Solomons (in the hope that things had stabilised after nine months.

A year later, and still no end in sight for a safe return to the Solomons, I had to make the decision not to include them in the collaborations CD and the fellowship process.

There is no doubt that this was a great disappointment, and effected the recording of Five Corners song, on which I had hoped to have participation from musicians from four countries on the same song. Nonetheless, I decided to quit the Fellowship and then go to the Solomons once the situation had returned to normal.

Update (October 2004)

I finally visited the Solomons (together with partner Cecile Williams) to gain the contacts and support from loal musicians for the Pan People Project in 2007. During this time I managed to hear a good cross section of the wonderful groups there.

In A'ama village(on the northern tip of Malaita Island) was a group of highly talented young musicians and dancers (the Recreation Band Pipe Group), where we were treated by the whole community as 'special community guests'. It was a wonderful time; it would take a short story to describe the experiences of living in that village for five days. Thanks to Ben Teoga, Silas Sukona, Seth, John, Nasta and Delight and the Nali nut people.

We then travelled by truck and canoe to the southern end of Malaita Island, to Oterama Village, where we again experienced something quite unique. The village resides within a mangrove swamp, and houses the members of the wonderful Narasirato Pan Pipers. Led by Donation Manuasi, this group retains its status as one of the first groups to perform publicly in the Solomons.

During this short four weeks I managed to visit St Josephs Tenaru school, meeting with the principal Connely Sandakabatu, record an interview with Julian Makaa on SIBC, see the Toelgu Youth Band, the PVC band and the Florence Young Christian School Band.

Included was trips to the Western Province and the Marovo Lagoon, for some unbelievable snorkling and scuba diving (staying at the very friendly Charapoana Lodge, where we managed to get up to date on the situation in the Solomons). Huge thanks to Anita Butler and Bruce Edwards, who very generously let us stay with them during all our Honiara transit stops.