Fiji Tour of tribute for Kiribati Musicians

[Stacey King]

>FIJI TIMES ONLINE Ioane Burese Saturday, October 29, 2011

THIRTEEN renowned musicians and a comedian from Kiribati will showcase their talents for the first time here in Suva at the Suva Civic Auditorium today from 12 noon to 4pm.

The team leader and CEO for the Kiribati Broadcasting and Publication Authority, Betarim Rimon, said the tour was a tribute to musicians and composers in Fiji who had influenced the development of the Kiribati's musicians.

"The Kiribati-Fiji Roadshow is also a follow-up to the popularity of our music here and songs that have topped the musical charts and the radio airwaves in the past decade or so. Songs like Bubua ni maia, Ai tera te iaongo irou and Au ese Au esa.

"Performing with our singers as a guest artist at the Civic Centre will be Bata Teinamati, a singer from Rabi whom we believe has helped shape Kiribati music."

Mr Rimon, the team manager, is a keen musician himself and has served as the private secretary to the Kiribati President, who also hails from the island of Rabi.

His sister is currently the High Commissioner of Kiribati to Fiji. Both have spent a good part of their lives and went to school in Rabi and at the University of the South Pacific.

"The shows that our group will be holding here in Fiji are not for profit but merely to recover expenses only," said Mr Rimon. "We anticipate a total expenses of more than $A40,000 ($F74,453) and expect less than half of that to be raised here."

The team returns to Kiribati on December 17.