4/4 Pacific Music + Arts Volume 2:2 Oct 2017 | Page 13

Writer: P. Togi-Sa'ena
All Event Images: TOPIC (Offi cial photographer)
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OPETAIA FOA'I
The opening tribute performance hinted to the audience that the Trust was
acknowledging the work of Opetaia Foa’i. Early on in the ceremony the Paciϐic
Music Awards Trustees presented the Special Recognition Award – for Outstanding
Achievement to Opetaia Foa’i. to recognise his contribution and achievement with
the music for the ϐilm ‘Moana’ – and for the Trust to be able to pay tribute and honour
Opetaia Foa’i with this Special Recognition Award.
Before the presentation, the Trust confi rmed t hey
were thrilled to celebrate the music of Opetaia by
having the opening number created, to pay tribute
to him. Acknowledgement and thanks were given
to Nainz and Becks, Directors of the Saintzup
Performing Arts Trust and all the amazing young
artists, for their epic performance.
Here is the extract from our presentation on the
night, highlighting his history and career and why he
was so deserving of this acknowledgment.
Opetaia Tavita Foa’i was born in Alamagoto, a small
village in Samoa. His father is from Tokelau and
his mother is from Tuvalu. Since forming in the
mid 90s, Te Vaka have fi rst taken Pacifi c music to
the world for over two decades nowband have an
2017 SPECIAL RECOGNITION: OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
extremely long list of achievements and a generous
collection of awards – lead by Opetaia.
We were extremely proud when Opetatia was
invited to compose music and contribute to the
Moana fi lm with the team from Disney. There is
no doubt how signifi cant his infl uence was, to so
much of the content. To directly provide our stories,
our sounds and voices into the fi lm – was such an
immense contribution. Truly signifi cant was the
fact that Opetaia provided the fi rst ever non-English
song – that has been included in a Disney fi lm.
We acknowledge that there were many others
involved in the Moana soundtrack. We would also
like to acknowledge Opetaia’s wife, Julie Foa’i, for
all her work.
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