Papua New Guinea celebrates 50 years of independence, and what better way to reflect on our journey than through the music that brought us together? 🇵🇬🎤
Join us as we honour Matalau Nakikus, the legend behind Barike, a band that defined an era with its powerful message of unity, culture, and identity. Not only is Nakikus a gifted musician, but he is also a university-trained secondary school teacher and lawyer, proving that music and education can go hand in hand.
Before his music career, Nakikus was a pioneer of drama at the National Arts School, helping shape the performing arts scene in Papua New Guinea. He later received a scholarship to study at NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) in Australia, where he trained alongside Hollywood legend Mel Gibson. His journey in the arts, from theatre to music, showcases his deep passion for storytelling and cultural preservation.
Alongside his talented bandmates John Wong, Glen Low, Fabian Tadoi, Don Lessy, and others later like Kanai Pineri, Nakikus helped shape the PNG music scene, creating songs that still resonate today. From the anthemic Wan Kantri (One Country) to heartfelt tributes like Rabaul Town, Barike’s music has been the voice of a nation in times of triumph and hardship.
🔥 Discover how Barike fused traditional Tolai sounds with contemporary influences, creating timeless songs that inspired generations of Papua New Guineans. Learn about the Bougainville crisis, the devastating 1994 Rabaul eruption, and how music became a source of strength and hope.
💙 Today, as Nakikus battles health challenges, his legacy lives on through his son, Nathan Nakikus, and nephew, Anslom Nakikus, ensuring that Barike’s message of unity never fades.
🎤 In this exclusive interview, Matalau Nakikus also reflects on 50 years of Papua New Guinea’s independence and shares his hopes for the next 50 years—a future where music continues to unite and inspire the nation.
🙏 In these challenging times, it is the hope of Nakikus, a strong Christian, that the message of Wan Kantri (One Country) can bring Papua New Guinea together as we celebrate 50 years of independence.
🌊 As he talks about his hometown of Rabaul, the beautiful 'Pearl of the Pacific', tears come down his eyes. The memories of a once-thriving paradise, filled with music, laughter, and culture, remain deeply etched in his heart. Though the volcanic eruption changed everything, his love for Rabaul and its people endures.
🔥 Nakikus also recalls the controversy surrounding Barike’s 1983 album, Team Spirit. The album cover, featuring the band members posing with an expatriate woman in a bikini, sparked debate at the time, creating waves in PNG’s conservative society. While some saw it as a bold artistic expression, others found it provocative. The controversy remains a memorable chapter in Barike’s legacy.
🎶 No song has united Papua New Guinea in the way that Wan Kantri (One Country) has. It became an anthem of togetherness during times of division, a song that transcended cultural and regional differences, reminding every Papua New Guinean that despite our diversity, we are one nation, one people.
🎶 Let’s celebrate our music, our culture, and our strength as ONE NATION, ONE PEOPLE! 🇵🇬✨
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