Yalataka ni na lesu mai
Me mai kauti keda kece ki vua
Ki na vanua sa vakarau oti tu
Tiko vakacegu kina mai keya
Chorus
Marau dina mai Jerusalemi vou
Na koro dina ni noda Kalou
Kalougata ni da muri koya tu
Bula vata ga ka me tawamudu tu
Sa voleka ni na rairai mai
Wekaqu vakarau de ko bera
Me mai kauti ira era vakarau
Ki na bula tawamudu kei Jisu
Chorus
Chorus
au via tiko ga kei iko
na utoqu sa tu vei iko
sa maroroi tu kina na yacamu
vinakati iko e yasaqu
dredre meu vosota
ni daru sega ni sota
rogoca noqu vosa
e dina noqu vosa
au sa rui oca
au sa bau oca na wawa
toso dina ga na macawa
toso balavu tu na aua
sa baci sega ni moce rawa
au sa bau oca na wawa
oca na wawa
oca na wawa
dredre meu cegu ni ko yali
sega ni rawa meu rai tani vei iko
au sa tauvimate mai
ni daru sega ni dau veirai
dredre meu meu vosota
ni daru sega ni sota
rogoca noqu vosa
e dina noqu vosa
au sa rui oca
au sa bau oca na wawa
toso dina ga na macawa
toso balavu tu na aua
sa baci sega ni moce rawa
au sa bau oca na wawa
toso dina ga na macawa
toso balavu tu na aua
sa baci sega ni moce rawa
au sa bau oca na wawa
**Rest of the song is in Tagalog***
This song was performed by Samoan artists Uso.
Rewa au cibi tu, e vukumuni
Noqu a susugi mai vei kemuni
Vakacokonaki au ki na bula ‘qo
Noqu Bula dredre
Sa vukei au.
Dina e Vanua ca
Luvu wasoma
Au na dauvosota tu
Me’u colata ga
Vakacokotaki au
Ki na bula ‘qo
Noqu Buca dredre
Sa vukei au
Taki vei yaga tu
Na bula oqo
Na lewena e na gu era gu ki liu
Au na vakataka ga
Ni colata tu
Cibitaka ka doka
Na Buca oqo
MUDRE MAI NA CEVA
Mudre mai na Ceva
Mai na waitui bula
Tubu cake na ua ni Cakau
Mudre mai na Ceva
Vakacegu na yaloqu
Vakavuna na bula vei au.
Mai na Ceva, mai Kadavu
Ciri koto vakayawa mai wai.
Liwa mai, liwa mai
Cagi mai baba Ceva
Nabukelevu e votu yawa tu
Liwa yani na Ceva
Muaidule Latilevu
Noqu suesue au cegu
Sa i divi ni vanua ko Nacolase
Na vei turaga bale era liutaka
Nodra duigauna era dui colata
Rogo tu e dai na yacadra.
Au galala li mai na veiliutaki
Ni noqu vanua na Matanitu
Au galala li mai na noqu lotu
Sega ni’u galala mai vei ira.
Sa duri noda vale ni bose levu
Yacana sau na Ratu Nacagilevu
Na vono vanua me bosei kina
Ni kalougata tikoga.
Na soli keiViti era bau saini
E na koro ko Levuka seda kei Viti
Soli na Vanua sa kena madigi
Vei Vikatoria na Kuini
Music: “Sau Tiko Viti” by Drixstar (aka KING Kokoroji) ft. Tropic Thunda
KKU Ft Accalewas & Young Davie
CIBI
Teivovo Teivovo
Ia Ia E
Rai tu mai Rai tu mai
Au na viriviri kemu bai
chrs
Viti Noqu Viti
Au na cibitaki iko
Viti Noqu Viti
Au na valataki iko
Noqu Viti
Verse 1
Isa Viti Noqu Viti
Au na bole au na cibi
Au na vala yaco na mate
Me cecere drotini kei Viti
Bring it Back Bring it back one more time
Its your boy KKU on the Mic
Spreading the love the Fijian Style
Let me see your Bula Smile
Viti Noqu Viti
Barata Yang
Bring it back to me one more time
Noqu Viti!! Noqu Viti!!
Spread your love in Fijian Style
Let me see your bula smile
chrs
Viti Noqu Viti
Au na cibitaki iko
Viti Noqu Viti
Au na valataki iko
Noqu Viti
Verse 2
For Fiji, Ever Fiji
I will fight on, I will conquer
May our islands
Rise and prosper
Me cecere drotini kei Viti
Bring it Back Bring it back one more time
Its your boy KKU on the Mic
Spreading the love the Fijian Style
Let me see your Bula Smile
Viti Noqu Viti
Barata Yang
Bring it back to me one more time
Noqu Viti!! Noqu Viti!!
Spread your love in Fijian Style
Let me see your bula smile
CHRS
Viti Noqu Viti
Au na cibitaki iko
Viti Noqu Viti
Au na valataki iko
Noqu Viti
E da sa qaqa
Eda sa qaqa
E na vuku ni dra
Kei na nona vosa
E da sa qaqa
We have overcome
We have overcome
By the blood of the lamb
And the word of the Lord
We have overcome
Repeat twice
2013 na yabaki au nanuma koya
Vosa ni yalayala e matai talatala
Nadroga na vanua na nomu yasana
Mai dei kina Seva daru vauci vata
Dua na yabaki daru tiko vata mai
Kamikamica tu na bula lei vuni marama
Rogo na kaci Tokalau e loma e rui yawa
E rui maositi au lewa sa yawaki au
Dua na siga tokalau e loma meu qiriti iko
Isa dreu noqu lewa cava sa irogo mai Viti
Vale ni danisi o drau raici
Kei koya na noqu i karua
Drodro yauyau wai ni mataqu niu rogoca
Mai kuri ni oca
Buna au sotava
Chorus
Sa bau mosimosi dina vei au
Ko voroloka kece na noqu marau
Sau ni noqu dina na nomu ivakarau
Au na vosota noqu vakamau
Niu yalataka sai iko ga
Au na vosota nomu cala kecega
Vuqa na npqu i tokani era masulaki au
Isa turaga soli na vakacegu meu marau
Niu mai sotava tu na bula au sega ni tadra
au na vosota ga qori noqu yalayala
Au sa tatau vei iko lequ dreu mo sereki au
Ca’audrove na vanua au vola kawabula
Au na dau taubena tu na nodaru gauna kamica
Ni sai iko ga lewa sai iko ga
Au na dau taubena tu na nodaru gauna kamica
Ni sai iko ga lewa sai iko ga
Chorus
Chorus
Adi Asenaca
Tuikilakila, Turagacati
Oqori na yacamu dina
Welagi Taveuni
Na nomu koro dina
Ko vasu ki Lovoni
Nasaumatua Ovalau
CHRS
Adi Asenaca
Mo na qai nanuma
Na veituberi
Mai vei Ta kei Na
Mai Lodoni
Ko tuberi kina
Mo kua ni guilecava na veisusugi
Ko a bucini kina
E levu tu na meca
Ni nomu sasaga
Mo nanuma noqu lewa
Kua ni qalova uaua na moka
E sega ni rawarawa
Vuli ko a qarava
E Ratu Kadavu Levu
Ni ko kena goneyalewa
CHRS
Mo mada noqu lewa
Au kerea qai nanuma
Neitou I loloma
Mai na Kula Kei Uluivuya
CHRS
This article by Felix Chaudhary was published by the Fiji Times
MORE than 50 years after it was composed, we have now been told that we have been singing it wrong.
It’s Mateaki and not Matiavi!
The creation of mondegreens are quite common, where misheard lyrics are substituted by words that makes sense to the listener, but in the case of the all-time classic, Yalo E Veiciriyaki, all those who have sung this song wrongly will feel great embarrassment — and deep sorrow — when they hear why and for whom this song was written.
Last Saturday, renowned vocalist and the last surviving member of The Phoenix Choir, Ilisapeci Tamani, set the record straight as she shared the heart-wrenching story of how her two-year-old daughter Mateaki was taken from her almost 60 years ago.
Most of those attending the Nem and Talei Tribute to the Classics show were unaware that Ms Tamani was the composer of this song that has a very haunting melody.
And as she related the events behind the song, there was not a dry eye in the Grand Pacific Hotel Ballroom where the event was held.
Where words failed, the powerful lyrics spoke. Everyone felt the pain, torment and heartache in that song as they never did before.
Ms Tamani composed the song more than half a century ago and the lyrics describe the torment her soul went through during what she described as the most trying moment in her life.
She was about 20 years of age when she met Tevita Fatafehi, a young Tongan nobleman who had come to Fiji for work.
The two began a courtship and it resulted in the birth of their first daughter, Mateaki.
“She was so beautiful, she looked like an angel,” the singer shared.
“We began making plans for marriage and at that stage I was carrying our second child, but his family said they had sent him to Fiji to work and not get married.
“And if he was to get married, it would have to be with someone of equal ranking because he was a member of the royal family.
“So he was summoned back to Tonga and when the time came for him to return, he made a request that tore my heart into little pieces. He asked if he could take Mateaki who was two years old at the time to Tonga.
“At first I refused but I could also see that she was very attached to him, so after he made promises to take her and return to whisk me away, I let Mateaki go.”
Tamani shared the painful events of their parting at the Suva Port.
“Those days, there was no aeroplane going to Tonga. This was around 1956. There were two ships that sailed from here to Tonga — the Tofua and the Matua.
“In the week leading up to Mateaki’s departure, my family rushed around preparing food and all the traditional Fijian mats and dabedabe for her.
“One of my uncles worked for a bus company, he brought the bus and transported my whole family to the wharf.
“When we got there and I saw the ships, my heart sank. I knew the little girl who had been inside me for nine months and who I gave birth to — my first-born — was going to be taken away.
“I refused to even look at her as Tevita and Mateaki bid us farewell.
“I just sat on the ground and cried and cried.
“I felt like my life was not worth living anymore. Mateaki was everything to me and I just could not cope with the thought of losing her.
“She was excited at the prospect of going on a boat and seeing all my family, but little did she know that she was being taken to a land far away from me.
“I used to be the lead singer, but I used to cry so much during our performances I was relegated to second or third voice.”
All the promises that Mr Fatafehi made to Ms Tamani did not materialise.
And it would be seven long years before she would see her daughter again.
The singer worked and saved her passage to Tonga. She lived on bare necessities, determined to see Mateaki again.
“When she left, I refused to eat because every time I saw or smelt food, I just thought of my little daughter and tried to visualise what she was going through.
“It got to a stage that I used to see her in my room and just when I’d reach out to hold her, she’d just vanish into thin air.
“I got so sick I was admitted at the Tamavua Hospital and stayed there for a very long time.
“The doctors were trying to find out what was wrong with me physically but they didn’t know that nothing they could do would cure me of my longing for Mateaki.”
Over time, Ms Tamani recovered, realising she had her second daughter — Mere Salote — to take care of.
With the assistance of The Phoenix Choir director Sir Josua Rabukawaqa, she managed to get her travel documents arranged for her trip to Tonga.
She flew to Nuku’alofa in 1963, a journey she described as “uneventful”.
“I can’t even remember anything about that flight. The only thing that kept going through my head was what I would say to Mateaki, what would she say to me, and I tried to visualise what she looked like.
“When she left me, she was two and now she was nine. I wondered if she would recognise me and come to me. And I wondered if she would recognise me or even want to know me.
“There were so many uncertainties going round and round in my head.”
Mateaki was at school when she arrived at the Fatafehi residence.
Relatives were dispatched to bring her home and Ms Tamani recalled the moment she laid eyes on her very vividly.
“She was everything I had imagined her to be and more,” the singer recalled.
“She came and stood at the entrance to the home and just stared at me and then came towards me and we hugged and cried and I just couldn’t let go of her.
“Seven years of wondering, praying, wishing, and hoping just to be with her at that moment, it was too much.
“I kept kissing her and hugging her and prayed that we would never be apart again.”
Ms Tamani returned to Fiji after two months in Tonga and decided that Mateaki should remain with her father, but that they should retain close contact with each other.
Mateaki travelled frequently to visit her mother and eventually settled in Australia.
In September this year, she came to Fiji to celebrate her mother’s 80th birthday.
“She’s a grandmother now. She came with her daughter Katrina and grandchildren Georgia and Ashton. We had such a wonderful time together,” Ms Tamani shared.
“And I just thank God that He has continued to bless me with the ability to still be around and to watch my children and grandchildren grow up , it is such a huge blessing.
“I also thank God for Nemani and Talei for paying tribute to my work and music in such a wonderful way last Saturday.
“I never expected to meet old friends like Radike Qereqeretabua, Ratu Manu Korovulavula, Ratu Osea Gavidi, Seru Serevi, Laisa Vulakoro and the so many other people who came up and greeted me.
“It was so much more than I ever expected and I am truly thankful.”
KKU’s new album is now available on iTunes
Veikacivi ni Turaga
Au sega ni tadra
Nanuma vakatamata
E vakaiyalayala
Noqu bula e vei siga
Ni kacivi au
Ko cei koi au
Mo ni tala
Niu tamata dau cakaca
Chorus
Au soli au oqo Jisu
E ligamuni
Yaco meu suai
Ni lomamuni
Sotavi na dredre
Au druka wasoma
Au vakacegu niu kila
Ni ko na dina tikoga
Chorus
Au nuidei tiko ga
Ni ko na lesu tale mai
Jisu meu yalodina tu
Chorus
Ena qiri na lali ni vakamau
Cava sa lomamu noqu itau
E na qiri i naica vei kedaru
Isa na lali ni vakamau
Ena bogi au sarava ena tadra
Na matamu gasagasa
Se ko cei ena tokara na noqu mama
E matana na italatala
Chorus
Sobo Adi ko vakavuna
Nomu gole vakadua
I yaloqu sa iko au masuta
Mo mai noqu dia vakadua
Chorus
Ko na yali vaka na kabu e mataqu
Ka o na yaga ki lomaqu
Ciri yawa na noqu vakanananu
Moce isa noqu salusalu
Moce isa noqu salusalu
Serene e kabu vakayawa
Sa vanua ga ni vei wai cevata
Vuka takosova na wasa pasifika
Noqu vanua meu gadi yani kina
Savusavu meu kele yani kina
Waitui karakarawa qai vakadimaravu
Au ceguva na cagi bulabula
Noqu vanua au mateca dina
Chorus
Vanua Levu au cavu tu mai kina
Cakaudrove na noqu yasana
Vanua Levu au cavu tu mai kina
Cakaudrove na noqu yasana
Koroiboro noqu yavu noqu buca
Marau o Ta kei Na niu talevi rau kina
Isa na marau tawa yalani dina
Siga ni sucu kei na tawase ni yabaki
Adi Asenaca Rokotuibua
Ko rosi dina sara mai na nomu yasana
Daulomani ai loloma savu yawa yani
Na watiqu sa iko noqu isakisaki
Chorus
I butoni toba meu lade yani kina
Natewa bay qai vakaciriloloma
Korotasere meu lai vakacegu kina
Vaturova au saini mate kina
Dou moce mai vale au loloma yani
Dua na siga au na lesu tale yani
Masu laki vua na tamada mai lagi
O Mili Vuicakau e vakamoce yani
Au gadreva meu serelaka
Na vanua au dau yabeta
Vei nuku loaloa
E vakaciriloloma
Kele yani ko Nai
Meu cabe cake yani
Drauniniu yaloyalo mai
Au rogoca na domoni wai
Marau tu o kuku
Niu sa na baci tu
Veivuke na ta niu
Rui wananavu
Rokolosi Korovuka
Ko yaca kei Salesi
Na noqu itokani
Ena veivei yabaki
Chorus
Isa na gauna koya
Au na tawa guilecava
Saluaki tu ni noqu bula
Noqu mai tu vakayawa
Isa Salesi
nomu Luvu mai waibula
Momosi na yalogu
niu tovolea nomu bula
Nomu tu na vakacegu
Na marau tawayalani
Ki na vanua yalataki
Parataisi nai gadigadi
Takoso tu iDala
Sara yaloyalo yavala
Nomu sala e boi vinaka
Au diva tu na sulua
Yaco tu i Kicoa
Cabolo tu na gunu yaqona
Domo ni sere e kamica
Au bolea ga meu gunu siga
Chorus
Tavalequ meu volitaki
Se meu ciciva na baravi
Noqu dau veiwalitaki
Vei ira na rosi kei Wainikeli
Valetino moce yani
Tamai Levonu au loloma yani
Navakacoa
Ena tawa guilecavi
Chorus
Valetino moce yani
Tamai Lovonu au loloma yani
Navakacoa
Ena tawa guilecavi
You Tube has announced today that it will be banning #Fijian music from its website. Youtube a popular site for Fijians as a source for music is littered with illegal uploads of copyrighted Fijian music.
Sundar Pichai CEo Google
“These uses up a lot of our time and resources in responding to owners copyright claims, verifying ownership and having to pull down these videos.The Google legal department has decided after discussions with Youtube senior advisers that uploads originating from Fiji with music will be banned.”
He has clarified that videos without music will still be allowed and that google bots that screen uploads will automatically ban any videos with music.
We have contacted the FPRA music body in Fiji but still awaiting a response from them.
This will greatly affect this site as most videos that come with the lyrics will now be removed. We will be strategising on how we can go around this and will keep you uploaded.
Red White and Navy Blue
Army Navy and the Air Force too
We’ll fight side by side
We are proud of you
Over land or sea or sky
Where the bullets go whistling by
You’ll find the Fiji Battalion
Fighting by your side
Era sulu kaki mai
Cauravou ena gauna edai
Macawa e vanua e wai
Kei ira kece na duikaikai
Era vala ka veisisivi
Lagilagi dina dau kedra idivi
Nida raica dina sara ga e ke
Na Mataivalu ni Viti
