Bula Band

Bula means "welcome" and "hello" and "praise be," and everywhere in Fiji, people greet one another this way with a big wide grin. The Bula Band is a group that we met while they performed at the Jean Michel Cousteau resort. Their members include lead guitarist Iosefo Tuna, Epel Raikuna, Jim Luita, J Ross and ukulele player and vocalist Nemaya Kavika.

Each evening they perform on the floor around a kava bowl alternating between singing in four-part harmony and drinking kava. Singer Nemaya Kavika is a medicine man and remarkably knowledgeable herbalist. His singing voice is amazingly smooth and silky. Meeting him was like coming upon the Fijian version of Ibrahim Ferrer (lead vocalist for the Buena Vista Social Club) They just don't make voices like this anymore...sample his version of "Til There Was You."

Lead Guitarist Iosefo Tuna's playing style is very swingy, upbeat and his improvisations are easy-going and tasteful. —Courtesy Calabash Music