Fiji Vude Queen visits Samoa
Marika Nakete and “Vude Queen” Laisa Vulakoro
Photo: Supplied
Laisa Vulakoro, also known as the Queen of Vude (Dance in Fijian) landed in Samoa last week to perform at the wedding of one of her close friends from the Silva Family, which was held last Friday. She was accompanied by her nephew Marika Nakete who is also her keyboardist and forms a duo with Vulakoro.
Eyespy Radio had the opportunity to sit down with the singing icon last Saturday evening, at the Taumeasina Island Resort, where the artist conveyed that her being in Samoa was “God's plan.”
"Right now in Fiji the general election has already commenced. If I were back home I would be out in public protesting against the many corruptions I see within the Government," she said.
Vulakoro condemned the military coup that deposed the elected government of Laisenia Qarase on the 5th of December 2006. After writing an unsympathetic letter to a local newspaper, Vulakoro found her Suva home raided and searched by members of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces on the 26th December.
She was subsequently taken to Suva's Queen Elizabeth Barracks, for questioning on the 28th December of the same year. Before being released, she was warned to stop speaking out against the Military.
"We have to speak up if we see injustice, I've been arrested and detained before but it has not stopped me from speaking up and voicing my objections," stated Vulakoro.
Members of the Fijian Community in Samoa flocked to Taumeasina Island Resort to watch the singer perform some of her hit songs such as "Jule ni hana hana", "Mere lailai" and some of her other well known tracks.
One of the singers fans and close friends, Sang Hoon from Tailevu, Fiji who has been living in Samoa since 2018 stated that Vulakoro is an inspiration, "She's been through a lot, she's not only a cancer survivor, a loving mother, but also a very strong individual which you can tell when you listen to her music," he said.
This is only the second time the singer has been to Samoa, and she said that she enjoys how laid back Samoa is. "It's a very beautiful place and very different from back home. I'm glad to see that Samoa has still got that Island vibe and also the culture here is still strong," she said.
Ms. Vulakoro hails from the island of Yacata in Cakaudrove Province. Her music combines disco, rock and Fijian folk music. Vulakoro has performed since the 1980s and has released sixteen albums. During a period in Australia in the 1990s, Vulakoro performed with Scottish-born Australian rock singer Jimmy Barnes.
The 62 year old, departed from Samoa Monday the 19th of December, but says she’s planning to return to Samoa, some time in the near future.