Kokonati Talk

I'm easing into 2026 with my talanoa with artivist Elisha Bano. We talanoa about her childhood in Nadi Town and her love of theatre and poetry that lead her to her community work and artivism which would eventually lead her to Buckingham palace. We also talanoa about life in Australia and her reverse migration back home. Music credits Genome by Falls Pink Sand by PALA Raspeebies by Dresden the Fla...

Happy Fiji Day! This episode in recorded in two parts. Part I - Outer Urban Studios - Coburg I talanoa with Fijian gospel singers and twin sisters Ruci and Joanne Kaisila. They are the writers and performers of the film 'KIN - DUDI and JOJO'. It's a story of ancestral consciousness, sharing their family history and migration told by young Fijians living in north Melbourne. We talanoa a...

I'm kicking off season 3 as we head into the Fiji Day week. I talanoa with Fijian musician Joe Amputch now based in Adelaide. My talanoa with Joe starts off my 'Fijians Far from Home' episodes. We chat about his idyllic childhood in Korolevu and his career in the Fiji music scene to transitioning to life in Australia. Can't get enough of your love - The Hindley Street Country Club Joe Amputch - Fa...

Just in time for Valentine's Day! For the season 2 finale I'm rounding up my Fiji Tour episodes with one of Fiji's biggest LGBTQI influencers, Alex Ligairi a.k.a 'Raiwai Butter'. We talanoa about his roots, his career, the dark side of cyberbullying and how he deals with it, his nails and much much more. Links to his show and SM 👇🏾 Teapot Talk Fiji Raiwai Butter on Tiktok Mus...

While I was in Fiji I snagged some time to talanoa with Fijian author Shazia Usman. We talk about her self published children's book Kaluti , a book about 10-year-old Zia and her trials and tribulations facing colourism. We also speak about her latest project Stories we come with an anthology of stories she facilitated and edited with alumni of the Emerging Leaders Foum. Music Credits Genome b...

In part 2, my talanoa continues at the Hilltop Bar in Suva City at the Hip Hop Pop Up rehearsals. I speak with ⁠Joycelyn Karawa ⁠ , ⁠OnceCrew ⁠ , Fiji Kidski, ⁠The Chief ⁠ and ⁠Lepi ⁠ all of them are up and coming music artists. JuBen - live from the teitei Special note: I would like to acknowledge Joycelyn Karawa who passed away a few short months after I recorded this. I’d like to dedicate this...

In September I sat down with Fiji's hip hop artists at their gig rehearsal to talanoa about their music and the series of Hip Hop Pop Ups started by Mc Trey and Mr Grin. In part 1, I talanoa with the OG's of Fiji's hip hop movement Red Child, MC Trey and Mr Grin in a small karaoke room at the Hilltop Bar in Suva city Music Credits Genome by Falls Palm Springs by Work Brunch Electric Ra...

I'm in Fiji and talking to some amazing people. This episode I talanoa with muralist Jack Eastgate and Ronna Sekiguchi of Greenhouse Studio & Coworking about the Art for Change initiative. The initiative just launched the mural 'Na Noda Ni Vanua' on Desvoux Rd. I also talanoa with Hefrani Barnes and Mele Nabola the two up and coming female artists that Jack mentored and they also c...

Join me at Melbourne's Fijian kava bar Pyls Cafe for the screening of Fijian doco 'Elections in Paradise', I talanoa with film makers Tumeli Tuqota & Laisiasa Dave Lavaki. Their film captures the 2022 Fiji elections. They travel across Fiji to talk to standing candidates, politicians and everyday Fijians. We talk about expired visas, missed flights and their musings about politics...

I talanoa with Fenton Lutunatabua about his new film 'Vakaraitaka', parenthood and his climate activism journey. Music Credits Cool by EILOH Raspeebies by Dresden the Flamingo Electric Rainbows by Matt Wigton

In our season 2 opening episode we talanoa with Fijian fashion designer Atelaite Daunibau about the hustle of fashion, how she carved out her niche bridal brand and complimenting business Sugarose Beauty. Music Credits Cool by EILOH Raspeebies by Dresden the Flamingo Electric Rainbows by Matt Wigton

In my final episode of the season, I talanoa with Fijian handicraft artisan Jacqueline Kete about her career, childhood and the complexities of navigating the practice of her art while respecting her culture and remain relevant in a changing world. You can check out Jackie's Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/TheJourneybyKete

My talanoa with Fijian powerhouse voice Talei Draunibaka takes us on a journey through Fijian night life urban culture to the islands of Lau. Her journey to live an unplugged life to reconnect with her elders is inspiring.

I talanoa with artist Joseph Baro Kaurasi about his latest art project of masi motifs and his journey of cultural and artistic discovery through covid lockdown. If you'd like to check out his art here's his Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/aron_ite/ And feel free to shoot me a message if you have any questions neisau@kokonatitalk.com

In this episode I catch up with Samson Lee, Fijian fashion designer of Fiji's premiere fashion brand 'SL Fiji'. We talanoa about doing business in Fiji during COVID, creative collaborations and practising indigenous guardianship through fashion. Tp read about Bulou ni Ceva click here

Meli Tuqota is a Fijian animated filmmaker based in Suva, Fiji. Meli made history by making the first Fijian indigenous animated short film and the first ever Fijian crowd funded film. He shares his journey of filmmaking and cultural reconnection.