Besil Sammy (Basco) from Nanga Nanga, and his son Felix Sammy (Tinduk, tuitupele). Guitar from Not Drowning, Waving’s John Phillips. Ocean and Conches recorded at the floodway near Kokopo.
Old Besil sings this very special song. Basil is 80 years old. The song also is old. It tells of a woman spirit guiding the canoe into the kinavai. She lies upright underneath the canoe, straddling, cradling the canoe with her body guiding it towards the shore.
“We Tolai are sea faring people, well versed in building ocean going canoes---our day to day life has always revolved around the ocean. It provides sustenance and trade routes, it offers protection from belligerent neighbours. a Bit na Ta, like the Volcano, is always there”
credits
from a Bit na Ta,
released October 11, 2016
Besil Sammy
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