Pati Umaga’s homecoming

"We're often seen as being 'broken' and told we should stay home, but with a lot of hard work we're making inroads into changing those views”

The well-known Wellington Samoan Band Kabasa has arrived in Apia for the Samoana Jazz & Arts Festival starting this Friday 7 to 9 November.

Formed in the late 70’s-80’s in the Wainuiomata garage of the Umaga family, Pati, Daniel and Lani teamed up with Peter Tuitama, Allen Sa’ena and Peta Si’ulepa to form Kabasa the popular Samoan band that played at weddings, church functions, community socials and Samoan Students Association functions.

This was the band that many young Samoans joined and honed their musical “chops” and then moved on to play with other bands. Well-known names such as jazz guitarist Lance Su’a, Mara Finau – lead singer for the Holiday Makers, Martha and Sharon Samasoni – Quabax and others singers who went on to became solo recording artists in their own right such as Lole Usoali’i.

The band had undergone various line ups over the years but the Umaga brothers Pati and Daniel have kept the Kabasa flames burning.

Band leader, bassman and music maker Pati Umaga was recently awarded the Queens Service Medal for his services to the Pacific community pioneering new ground in Disability support. He knows the problems facing the disabled as a fall from slipping on a shower mat in 2005 left him paralysed.

"We're often seen as being 'broken' and told we should stay home, but with a lot of hard work we're making inroads into changing those views.”

He is the co-founder of the Contemporary Music Programme at Whitireia Polytechnic in Wellington which was the incubator for many a fine musicians, some of whom are performers at the upcoming Samoana Jazz Festival. Pati was also bass player for the Holidaymakers band, which had a number one hit “Sweet Lovers” in 1995 that has his distinct and trademark funk bassline.

Helping to break down stereotypes about people with disabilities amongst the Pacific Island community is a major driver for Pati Umaga. "Removing the stigma about disability within our own Pacific community is a big thing for me. We kind of get left a bit behind because we're still trying to come to terms with how our culture views the disabled.

“There is quite a groundswell of positive stuff happening within the community; we're getting there slowly."

In 2009 he was lead organiser for a Tsunami Benefit Concert and has been a judge for the Pacific Music Awards and the Central Region Secondary Smokefree Pasifika Beats Competition.

Last year, as part of the Rugby World Cup Real NZ Festival, he organised the music component of the Pacific Artists Collaboration Village a day-long event showcasing Pacific culture held in the Wellington Town Hall and Civic Square.

"It was part of the lead up to the Tonga vs France game and I got to perform with my band Kabasa, which really added to the day for me."
Homecoming for Umaga and Saena

Coming to Samoa is homecoming to both Pati Umaga and guitarist Allen Saena. Both lived in Samoa for some years before moving back to Wellington. In fact Pati is an Avele old boy where he learnt the hard yards in a school well-known for its unique and unorthodox disciplinary ways.

Now bound to a wheelchair after his accident, his work on behalf of the disabled includes chairing the ACC National Serious Injury Service Advisory Group and serving as a member of the Health and Disability Commissioner's Consumer

Advisory Group, along with other advisory roles.

"We're also working on the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which will eventually influence government policy globally."

Despite a heavy schedule, Mr Umaga places great importance on maintaining his musical links. "I'm a bass guitarist and really enjoy being involved in the music scene. It's good to have something to balance the meetings, papers and stuff I usually deal with."

Kabasa will join other awesome artists of Samoan descent from overseas and Samoan bands and artists from American Samoa and Samoa for the three day Samoana Jazz & Arts Festival this Friday 7 November to Sunday 9 November.