Music Portrait of a Humble Disabled Samoan - CYP

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.

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.