Music Portrait of a Humble Disabled Samoan

With humour, honesty and a quiet, powerful presence, Samoan musician and disability advocate Fonotī Pati Umaga shares his remarkable story in this compelling new work.

Raised in a church-going family in Wainuiomata, Fonotī was expected to become a minister like his father — but his passion was music. He forged his own path, breaking into the industry, launching a record label and building a career as bass player for The Holiday Makers.

In 2005, a fall left Fonotī tetraplegic, leading to years of challenge and self-made darkness before finding renewed purpose and healing in unexpected places.

Backed by a powerhouse Pacific creative team, Music Portrait of a Humble Disabled Samoan blends live music, storytelling and striking visuals to honour a man who continues to rise.

This production was commissioned by Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts, Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival and with support from Creative New Zealand’s Festival Commissioning and Presentation fund managed by PANNZ.

There will be a Choose your Price Kōwhiria Tō Utu session on Sun 15 Mar at 2:30pm. Book here.

He mea kawe me te ngākau whakakata, te pono, te mauri tau, me te mana nui. Ko Fonotī Pati Umanga tēnei, he kaipuoro, he kaikōkiri i ngā take o te hunga whaikaha. Kua tae mai ki te tuku i hāna kōrero mā tēnei whakaaturanga hou.

He mea whakatupu ki tētehi whānau whakapono i Wainuiomata, tōna tikanga ka tūa ia hei minita, pērā i tana pāpā, erangi kē ia ko tana pūmanawa, ko ngā mahi waiata. Nāna anō tana ara i para ki roto ki te ao ahumahi waiata, kua whakarewaina e ia tētehi tapanga kōpae, kua whai mahi me tana whakatangi panguru me te rōpū o Holiday makers.

I te tau 2005, i whara nui a ia, ā, hauā ana tana tinana, nā tēnā ka tau ki a ia te taikaha, te pāpōuri, me te wara pūroi. Ka huri te wā ka whitikina a ia e te rā me hētehi aronga hou, ara whakaora, i ngā wāhi auaha noa nei.

He mea tautoko e tētehi kapa Moananui-a-Kiwa kounga, he mea whakakotahi tēnei whakaaturanga i te puoro mataora, te kōrero pūrākau, te whakaari, kia whakahōnoretia tēnei tangata e whanake tonu nei.

He whakaaturanga kukume i ngā kītaratarao te ngākau, he mea whakatauira i te manawhakaora, ki te whakakotahi, ki te whakapiki wairua.