The 2023 Pacific Music Awards theme: Leveki mo e Puipui E Magafaoa Katoa - Guide and Protect the Entire Family
In August, the Pacific music community was celebrated at the 2023 Pacific Music Awards at the Due Drop Events Centre (formerly named the Vodafone Events Centre) in Manukau, Auckland. There were 22 awards handed out on the night, with Avondale born artist Melodownz taking out three awards for NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist, NZ on Air Best Pacific Music Video, and Recorded Music Te Pukaemi Toa o Te Moana Nui a Kiwa | Best Pacific Music Album Award for Lone Wolf.
Included in these honours was the talented Olivia Foai, awarded the SunPix Best Pacific Language and the Best Female Artist award for her song 'Sunlight'. Olivia hails from the famous Foai music dynasty and a member of the long running and world renown Te Vaka group. In this wonderful and deeply enchanting piece, Olivia has made her mark as a singer and a respected song writer, in her own right, on par with the legend that is Opetaia Foai. Sunlight is a song that show cases the beauty of gagana Tokelau when it is threaded lovingly into its lyrics. Olivia has translated the song and can be found on her website - Sunlight Lyrics - OLIVIA FOA'I (oliviafoai.com).
The new Chairperson of the Centre for Pacific Languages, a founding trustee of the Pacific Music Awards Trust, Sina Wendt ONZM, is extremely proud of the PMA journey over the last 18 years, when it all started with one award. It has grown in leaps and bounds with 22 awards presented in the August 2023 celebrations.
In line with the Pacific Music Awards 2023 theme, acknowledging the vagahau Niue, the opening performance from a collective featuring the Hakupu Atua Youth Auckland - Three Star Nation, gave an explosive start to the proceedings.
Alongside the celebration of our Pacific music winners, there were several live performances from finalists and winners alike including Melodownz, Lou’ana, Lepani, Jordyn With A Why, Jaro Local, and Victor J Sefo featuring Poetik and Biggs 685.
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