Beginning in the late '70s,
Johnny Clegg's musical efforts brought universal awareness to South Africa's mbaqanga music. Others have since followed his lead in droves, most notably
Paul Simon with his
Graceland album, followed by
Rhythm of the Saints, which explored South American music. Now the terms "world music" and "worldbeat" are part of the vernacular.
Opetaia Foa'i is accomplishing similar things with his group
Te Vaka. Like
Clegg, he's not an outsider who has become enchanted with the native music. Raised in a Tokelauan community, his music reflects his culture. With their second album,
Ki Mua, Foa'i has taken the language and song stylings of Pacific Islands such as Tokelau, Samoa, and Tuvalu and created a unique and uplifting sound in tribute to the people of that Polynesian island group. While exotic rhythms and harmonies are at the core of
Te Vaka's music, their more interesting sound results from the infusion of guitars, bass, and drum kit into their tribal elements. Of the album's 12 tracks, half of the songs incorporate this consonant union, leaving the listener with a representative balance of both the modern and ancient. ~ Dave Sleger