FABULOUS FIJI Salem XPS 5049 33 ⅓ Stereo LP

Te Ao Hou, 1971, Page 62

FABULOUS FIJI Salem XPS 5049 33 ⅓ Stereo LP This record features the Kabu Kei Vuda Entertainers, a group originally organised in 1962 by the village of Viseisei, Vuda, on the western coast of Viti Levu, for local entertainment and to cater for visitors to the area. Shortly after its formation, the group was heard by an American visitor who invited them on a month's all-expenses paid tour of Hawaii. Since then the group has had three overseas tours to Hawaii and the United States mainland, performing in such places as the Waikiki Shell, Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles and on the Ed Sullivan show. In Fiji the group is much in demand to entertain at hotels in the Nadi-Lautoka area as well as for special occasions and festivals. Despite its experience the group is still raw and unsophisticated yet full of the vigour and tuneful harmonies which characterise Fijian music at its best. There are 14 items on the record. For the most part they are melodious and easy to listen to. It is unfortunate however that the record cover gives almost no clue to what type the items are and what they are all about. For example, I suspect that Bula Malaya is one of the old Fijian Battalion songs brought back after the unit served in that country during the Communist Emergency, but there is nothing to confirm or deny this. Songs such as Matamu ni va Vula are to the casual listener merely a lengthy collection of verses with the same tune. Presumably the words of each verse are different although this is difficult to tell if one is unfamiliar with the Fijian language.

The item would have been much more interesting if the meaning and significance of it were explained. The two men's spear dances offer interesting comparisons with Maori haka and peruperu but what mean the changes in tempo, the varying rhythms of the spears, the shouted exclamations, the drumming, the point and counterpoint of the leader's calls and the group's replies? Alas, these are not explained. The record purports to be stereo but the medium is not exploited and there appears to be no difference in the sound coming through each speaker. Some of the tunes appear to be recorded with the performers too far from the microphone. Despite these deficiencies, however, the record is moderately pleasant listening and provides good examples of Fijian village singing for the collector.