Ep 25: Songwoman Orator - Seini Taumoepeau - a podcast by Arcia Tecun

This episode introduces songwoman and orator Seini Taumoepeau who is also known by her Hip Hop alias SistaNative. She shares some of her background, history, and philosophy as an orator, songwoman, lyricist, poet, rapper, and journalist. Seini also shares some of her experience learning from and with the local Indigenous Australian knowledge system of songlines. The meaning of song and sound is explored in relation to a hohoko consciousness and to its role in shaping the world one lives in. Seini shares stories of navigating and embracing different Indigenous contexts and networks of knowledge, while asking the questions: what is next and what is my contribution? She broadens and ruptures ideas of identity as a Tongan woman creative with a fluid adaptability that is based in fakafonua, which she utilises to fulfill her responsibility as a knowledge keeper and maker. Voyaging through shifting contexts of time and space SistaNative thrives in the state of transformation, responding to multiple relationships that are held in the present.

 

Topics: Indigenous spirituality, music, performance, Tonga, Oceania.

Terms: Bundjalung country (Indigenous peoples and place in what is currently also known as Byron Bay, Australia; rainbow region), Sorry Day (Australian national day of healing that has occurred annually since 1998 to commemorate the mistreatment of Indigenous peoples), Moanan (of the Moana, Oceanian). Tongan terms: hohoko (genealogical, genealogy, making connection), ma‘ulu‘ulu (Tongan sitting dance), fakafonua (of the land, people, heritage, custom), fakasiasi (of the church, Christian, religious), siasi (church, Christian), fonua (land, people, culture, placenta…), kāinga (village clan, extended family, see episode 10), fahu (chiefly sibling, eldest sister), mehekitanga (one’s father’s fahu, eldest paternal auntie).

Bands mentioned: Coloured Stone, Stiff Gins.

Songs in order of appearance:

-The Fat - The Last Kinection featuring SistaNative (from the Album NUTCHES).

-1,2,3, Kids song in Pitjantjatjara.

Performed by: SistaNative, Robert Champion, Kirsty Heffernan, Tapaya Edwards. Produced by Morganics.

-Old Tree (Fu‘u Heilala ‘o Tapungatata). Languages: English & Tongan. Written by: Seini ‘SistaNative’ Taumoepeau. Tauta‘ehoko Patron: Lavinia ‘Alofaki Finau Tupetaiki. Performed by: SistaNative & Stiff Gins (Nardi Simpson & Kaleena Briggs). Recorded at: ABC Studios - Ultimo, Sydney Australia.

-Prophet Blackness Demo – SistaNative (Bounty75) with 'Vee-Jay' Vadim Juste-Constant.

Airleke Ingram – Production.

-The 5th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art' (APT5) opening.

-Me‘etu‘upaki (Tongan voyaging prayer song/paddle dance).

Performed by: Seini Taumoepeau.

Further episodes of Wai? Indigenous Words and Ideas

Further podcasts by Arcia Tecun

Website of Arcia Tecun