Concert wows crowd - Next stop Rabi Island

[Stacey King]

FIJI TIMES ONLINE Serelisoni Moceica  Sunday, October 30, 2011

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Tabanea Tabaua and a fan entertain the audience during the Kiribati concert at the Suva Civic Centre yesterday. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU

SUVA's Civic auditorium was packed yesterday as people came out in numbers to witness the first of the Kiribati musical roadshow.

"There has been a long established relationship between Fiji and Kiribati music and we're here to showcase how Fiji music has influenced our own music back home," said spokesman, Aren Baoa.

Mr Baoa said the roadshow was organised by the Kiribati Broadcasting and Publication Authority and consisted of all the top musicians from the island country.

He said the development of Kiribati music from the more traditional music to the modernised version was largely attributed to the exchange of ideas between the Fiji and Kiribati people.

Chief executive officer of the KBPA, Betarim Rimon, said the tour was a first ever organised for the I-Kiribati musicians and said it was a tribute to Fiji's influence on their music industry. Mr Rimon said part of the experience for the entertainers was playing in front of a new crowd.

"It's a different crowd here in Fiji and this is a challenge for some of them who have never been out of the home atmosphere before," Mr Rimon said.

The next stop for the entertainers is Rabi Island on Tuesday before travelling to other parts of the country.