Kokonati Talk is a podcast exploring Fijian stories from the homeland and diaspora communities.
Talanoa {tah-lah-noah} verb - in Fijian, to talanoa is storytelling. It's sharing space to connect and encourage empathy and understanding.
We talanoa about Fijian contemporary culture and arts and other things in between.
Season 3 is out now
S3/EP 3 | Elisha Bano | Fijian Artivism that led to Buckingham Palace
I'm easing into 202n6 with my talanoa with artivist Elisha Bano. We talanoa about her childhood in Nadi Town and her love of theatre and poetry that lead her to her community work and artivism which would eventually lead her to Buckingham palace.
We also talanoa about life in Australia and her reverse migration back home.
Music credits
Genome by Falls
Pink Sand by PALA
Raspeebies by Dresden the Flamingo
Letters by Brasko
Happy Fiji Day!
This episode in recorded in two parts.
Part I - Outer Urban Studios - Coburg
I talanoa with Fijian gospel singers and twin sisters Ruci and Joanne Kaisila. They are the writers and performers of the film 'KIN - DUDI and JOJO'. It's a story of ancestral consciousness, sharing their family history and migration told by young Fijians living in north Melbourne.
We talanoa about navigating the duality in their identity, their spirituality and how it's shaped them as musicians and bringing the film to life with a team of Fijian creatives, which includes Tumeli Tuqota who directed the film and with the team at Outer Urban Projects, the KIN series is directed and produced by Irene Vela and produced by Kate Gillick.
Part 2 - My car , on the way to our screening dinner with Tumeli Tuqota the film director
Quick Q&A with Tumeli as we drive from the cinema to the Italian restaurant I Carusa in Brunswick for the screening dinner with cast and crew.
KIN SERIES
KIN - DUDI and JOJO is the first film in a four part series of documentary films, KIN by Outer Urban Projects (https://www.outerurbanprojects.org/)
Each film reveals the brilliant, hidden musical families and subcultures of Melbourne’s diasporic and artistic communities - as they grapple with rediscovered ancestries, assimilation, transformation and the power of siblings.
Photography - Meredith O'Shea
Music credits
Genome by Falls
Pink Sand by PALA
Raspeebies by Dresden the Flamingo
Letters by Brasko
Film music
Isa lei Lia - Performed by Ruci and Jo Kaisila
Vakadua tale mada Turaga - performed by Ruci and Jo Kaisila and family
3 Oct 2025
S3/EP1 | Joe Amputch - Just a Fiji Boy
I'm kicking off season 3 as we head into the Fiji Day week. I talanoa with Fijian musician Joe Amputch now based in Adelaide. My talanoa with Joe starts off my 'Fijians Far from Home' episodes.
We chat about his idyllic childhood in Korolevu and his career in the Fiji music scene to transitioning to life in Australia.
Can't get enough of your love - The Hindley Street Country Club (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKV8N19GAWw)
Joe Amputch - Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jamputch)
Music credits
Cool by EILOH
Pink Sand by PALA
Raspeebies y Dresden the Flamingo
13 Feb 2025
Alex Ligairi | The Real Raiwai Butter
Just in time for Valentine's Day!
In season 2 finale I'm rounding up my Fiji Tour episodes with one of Fiji's biggest LGBTQI influencers, Alex Ligairi a.k.a 'Raiwai Butter'.
We talanoa about his roots, his career, the dark side of cyberbullying and how he deals with it, his nails and much much more.
Links to his show and SM 👇🏾
Teapot Talk Fiji (https://www.viti.plus/title/21/teapot-talk)
Raiwai Butter on Tiktok (https://www.tiktok.com/@raiwai_butter/video/7464917781830618376)
30 Nov 2024
Shazia Usman - A tale of colourism
While I was in Fiji I snagged some time to talanoa with Fijian author Shazia Usman.
We talk about her self published children's book Kaluti (https://myfijistore.com/en/gifts/kaluti-fiji-childrens-book), a book about 10-year-old Zia and her trials and tribulations facing colourism.
We also speak about her latest project Stories we come with (https://shaziausman.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Anthology-Stories-We-Come-With-ShaziaUsman-FINAL-20.06.24.pdf) an anthology of stories she facilitated and edited with alumni of the Emerging Leaders Foum.
23 Nov 2024
S2/EP6 | Joycelyn Karawa | OneCrew | Fiji Kidski | The Chief | Lepi - Fiji's Hip Hop Scene /Part 2
In part 2, my talanoa continues at the Hilltop Bar in Suva City at the Hip Hop Pop Up rehearsals. I speak with Joycelyn Karawa (https://open.spotify.com/track/2XaPJXNyjZyN3o9C9v4As6?si=21e8f6ac09304177) , OnceCrew (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuzr0BnIpvU), Fiji Kidski, The Chief (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3OhaXPRPgg) and Lepi (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYZzm6CdgCo) all of them are up and coming music artists.
JuBen - live from the teitei (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UFQgm-1ikY)
Special note: I would like to acknowledge Joycelyn Karawa who passed away a few short months after I recorded this.I’d like to dedicate this episode to her.
18 Nov 2024
Joycelyn Karawa | OneCrew | Fiji Kidski | The Chief | Lepi - Fiji's Hip Hop Scene /Part 2
In part 2, my talanoa continues at the Hilltop Bar in Suva City at the Hip Hop Pop Up rehearsals. I speak with Joycelyn Karawa (https://open.spotify.com/track/2XaPJXNyjZyN3o9C9v4As6?si=21e8f6ac09304177) , OnceCrew (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuzr0BnIpvU), Fiji Kidski, The Chief (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3OhaXPRPgg) and Lepi (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYZzm6CdgCo) all of them are up and coming music artists.
Click on their names for their SM channels.
1 Nov 2024
S2/EP5 | Mr Grin | MC Trey | Red Child - Fiji's Hip Hop Scene / Part 1
In September I sat down with Fiji's hip hop artists at their gig rehearsal to talanoa about their music and the series of Hip Hop Pop Ups started by Mc Trey and Mr Grin.
In part 1, I talanoa with the OG's of Fiji's hip hop movement Red Child, MC Trey and Mr Grin in a small karaoke room at the Hilltop Bar in Suva city
31 Oct 2024
Mr Grin | MC Trey | Red Child - Fiji's Hip Hop Scene /Part 1
Fiji's hip hop OGs Red Child, MC Trey, and Mr Grin share their insights into the country's vibrant music scene and the impact of Mr Grin and MC Trey's Hip Hop Pop Ups.
27 Oct 2024
Ronna Sekiguchi | Jack Eastgate | Hefrani Barnes | Mele Nabola - Art for Change
I'm in Fiji and talking to some amazing people.
This episode I talanoa with muralist Jack Eastgate and Ronna Sekiguchi of Greenhouse Studio & Coworking about the Art for Change initiative.
The initiative just launched the mural 'Na Noda Ni Vanua' on Desvoux Rd. I also talanoa with Hefrani Barnes and Mele Nabola the two up and coming female artists that Jack mentored and they also collaborated with the mural.
8 Aug 2024
Tumeli Tuqota & Laisiasa Dave Lavaki - Elections in Paradise (LIVE Recording in Melbourne)
Join me at Melbourne's Fijian kava bar Pyls Cafe for the screening of Fijian doco 'Elections in Paradise', I talanoa with film makers Tumeli Tuqota & Laisiasa Dave Lavaki.
Their film captures the 2022 Fiji elections. They travel Fiji to talk to standing candidates, politicians and everyday Fijians.
We talk about expired visas, missed flights and their musings about politics in Fiji.
27 Jun 2024
Fenton Lutunatabua - Storyteller
I talanoa with Fenton Lutunatabua about his new film 'Vakaraitaka', parenthood and his climate activism journey.
17 May 2024
Atelaite Daunibau - The Hustle of Fashion
In our season 2 opening episode we talanoa with Fijian fashion designer Atelaite Daunibau about the hustle of fashion, how she carved out her niche bridal brand and complimenting business Sugarose Beauty.
18 Jan 2023
Jacqueline Kete - Gatekeeping an art form; finding the balance
In my final episode of the season, I talanoa with Fijian handicraft artisan Jacqueline Kete about her career, childhood and the complexities of navigating the practice of her art while respecting her culture and remain relevant in a changing world.
You can check out Jackie's Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/TheJourneybyKete
1 Dec 2022
Talei Draunibaka - Reconnecting and protecting Fijian music
My talanoa with Fijian powerhouse voice Talei Draunibaka takes us on a journey through Fijian night life urban culture to the islands of Lau. Her journey to live an unplugged life to reconnect with her elders is inspiring.
10 May 2022
Joseph Baro Kaurasi - Creating new art in a digital setting
I talanoa with artist Joseph Baro Kaurasi about his latest art project of masi motifs and his journey of cultural and artistic discovery through covid lockdown.
If you'd like to check out his art here's his Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/aron_ite/
And feel free to shoot me a message if you have any questions neisau@kokonatitalk.com
14 Apr 2022
Samson Lee - Indigenous guardianship & Fijian fashion
In this episode I catch up with Samson Lee, Fijian fashion designer of Fiji's premiere fashion brand 'SL Fiji'.
We talanoa about doing business in Fiji during COVID, creative collaborations and practising indigenous guardianship through fashion.
Tp read about Bulou ni Ceva click here (https://www.kokonatitalk.com/single-post/2018/04/04/when-legend-meets-fashion)
19 Mar 2022
Meli Tuqota - Cultural reconnection through art
Meli Tuqota is a Fijian animated filmmaker based in Suva, Fiji. Meli made history by making the first Fijian indigenous animated short film and the first ever Fijian crowd funded film.
He shares his journey of filmmaking and cultural reconnection.
Who has been a guest on Kokonati Talk
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Red Child
MC Trey
Mr Grin
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 21 / 100
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YouTube
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