Kokonati Talk

Neisau Tuidraki

5.0 (1)
SOCIETY & CULTURE

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

JAN 27

S3/EP 3 | Elisha Bano | Fijian Artivism that led to Buckingham Palace

I'm easing into 2026 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

39 min
10/10/2025

S3/EP2 | Dudi & Jojo - Ancestral Consciousness | Outer Urban Projects

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 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

48 min
10/03/2025

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 Joe Amputch - Facebook Music credits Cool by EILOH Pink Sand by PALA Raspeebies y Dresden the Flamingo

29 min
02/13/2025

S2/EP8 | Alex Ligairi - The Real Raiwai Butter

Just in time for Valentine's Day! For the 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 Raiwai Butter on Tiktok Music Credits Genome by Falls Raspeebies by Dresden the Flamingo Palm Springs by Work Brunch Electric Rainbows by Matt Wigton

26 min
12/09/2024

S2/EP7 | 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, 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 an anthology of stories she facilitated and edited with alumni of the Emerging Leaders Foum. Music Credits Genome by Falls Raspeebies by Dresden the Flamingo Electric Rainbows by Matt Wigton

34 min
11/23/2024

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 ⁠ , ⁠OnceCrew ⁠, Fiji Kidski, ⁠The Chief ⁠ and ⁠Lepi ⁠ all of them are up and coming music artists. JuBen - live from the teitei 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. Music Credits Genome by Falls Palm Springs by Work Brunch Electric Rainbows by Matt Wigton

29 min
11/01/2024

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 Music Credits Genome by Falls Palm Springs by Work Brunch Electric Rainbows by Matt Wigton

25 min
10/27/2024

S2/EP4 | 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. Music Credits Genome by Falls Palm Springs by Work Brunch Electric Rainbows by Matt Wigton

35 min

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

Creator

Neisau Tuidraki
Years Active

2022 - 2026
Episodes

16
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Neisau Tuidraki
Show Website

Kokonati Talk