THIS year’s Harmony Day in Swan Hill will be a jammed-packed night of flavours and fun that brings together people from many different backgrounds.
The event, on Saturday from 4pm to 8pm at Riverside Park, will feature performances showcasing the cultural diversity of Swan Hill and surrounds.
Among the performers will be Nyah West Fijian community’s Waisale Ranacika, known as Rocco, Asaneca Melania Samanunu, known as Sama, and Antonio Suluka, known as Tony.
Rocco, Sama and Tony say “bula” and “vinaka” (“hello” and “thank you”) to locals who want to experience Fijian music.
Their performance will also feature a traditional Fijian dance called “Meke”.
The trio has been singing since they were children in Fiji and from singing with their family, they progressed to performing in hotels and nightclubs as they grew older.
“Traditional music, singing and dancing is a huge part of our life in Fiji,” Sama said.
“Singing and performing is pretty much in our blood.”
Although they consider themselves to be gospel singers, they have decided to showcase traditional Fijian music to the wider community.
“For me, it will be part of my legacy,” Sama said.
“We are eager to represent our country because even though we are here, we still have a lot of heart for Fiji,”
Sama’s husband Tony is also looking forward to getting the community together when they perform.
“In Fiji, it’s usual for people get together and sing and dance to entertain each other, and that’s what I love about Harmony is that it brings back that community spirit that we’ve been missing,” he said.
This year is the group’s second time performing at Swan Hill’s annual Harmony Day event.
They considered their first time a success.
“When it was time for us to perform, we could see people running to the stage from every corner of the place,” Sama said.
“That’s why we want to do it again this year, because it’s a way of getting people together.”
Sama said that she appreciates the diversity of the community here.
“I’ve always said that Australia is a country of many opportunities, and it’s very interesting to come over to this big island from a small one and interact with many different people,” she said.
“Ever since I came to Swan Hill, I’ve made so many friends that come from other parts of the world and I have learnt a lot, even outside of Harmony Day.”
But without Harmony Day, Sama said that she may have held assumptions about other cultures that she wasn’t exposed to.
“We get to see many different parts of one culture on Harmony Day, and that has helped in clarifying assumptions I’ve had about that culture,” she said.
The group hopes people will appreciate their representation of Fijian culture on Saturday.
“I would love it if the elderly in the community came as well, we want them to get out and enjoy Fijian music if they can,” Sama said.
