KAUMAAKONGA (KMK) BIO

Avaiki musical outfit Kaumaakonga consists of musicians from the Solomon Islands, predominantly from Mungava and Mungiki (hence: Ava-iki), also known as Rennell and Bellona (RenBel) islands.

NEW KAUMAAKONGA ALBUM ‘TAOBA’ AVAILABLE NOW

CLICK HERE TO PREVIEW AND PURCHASE THE NEW FULL LENGTH KMK ALBUM

"TAOBA" by Kaumaakonga

OUT NOW VIA WANTOK MUSIK

KAUMAAKONGA (KMK) LONG BIO

KMK breathe new life into their Traditional Avaiki chants while combining traditional rhythms and percussion with panpipes, guitar and unique vocal harmonies. They rework and perform the chants and stories of their Polynesian forefathers, many which were previously forbidden and at risk of disappearing completely due to the effects of colonisation and religion reaching the shores of these small islands.

KMK is the result of individual members efforts to take the listener on a sonic journey from the past and slingshot them to the future of modern/ traditional Polynesian Melanesian musical fusions.

“Proud to have worked on this wonderful Kaumaakonga album. It’s a musically and culturally vital collection of songs from a very driven and talented outfit ready to stamp their mark as one of the best and most unique bands in our region. These are great songs, every one of them. They come from a place where Melanesian and Polynesian meet. The vocals have an amazing quality to them.”

~ David Bridie, Wantok Musik

KMK’s debut album, Taoba was released by Wantok Musik on June 21 and is paving new pathways for Polynesian & Melanesian music on an international scale. It has received international radio airplay as well as being Number 1 on the Pacific Music Charts and entering the monthly Transglobal World Music Charts at Number 18.

With the support of their Elders and community members from these remote islands, KMK are working hard as forerunners in Avaiki music, and their passionate live performances have audiences moving right throughout the pacific.

The recorded tracks of their debut album are a collection of diverse islands songs, including many Traditional chants, re-arranged in their own unique genre, with wonderful harmonies and driving rhythms.

“Reviving and reworking the chants is so important to us, because playing this music helps us connect to our past, our forefathers and helps us understand where they've been, what was important to them, the voyages, their achievements, their love lives etc. Basically they musically remind us of who we were, and who we truly are.”

~ Will Tekatoha, KMK guitarist.

KMK has performed locally and internationally, most notably in Vanuatu and Australia. They have represented Solomon Islands in three International festivals; the Melanesian Festival of Arts and Culture (Papua New Guinea 2014, Solomon Islands 2018) and the Festival Of Pacific Arts (Guam 2016) as well as repeat visits to Australia for various festivals and cultural exchanges.