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Sammy has led an extraordinary life as a Madagascan musician, at a time when most picked up guitars over the traditional Valiha, Sammy followed his passion for Madagascar’s musical heritage, by mastering and learning how to make most of Madagascar’s instruments.

His efforts coming to the notice of the UK’s world music scene as his group ‘Tarika Sammy’, gained international recognition, becoming a regular on major festival stages and being acknowledged as one of the world’s best 10 bands, by TIME Magazine. Sammy has been much in demand since, and we are proud to have him at every Small Island Big Song concert.

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Photo: Small Island Big Song

The world sees Easter Islanders as the people who foolishly depleted their natural resources deforesting their island, Yoyo Tuki confronts that image as he stands strong in his Rapa Nui ancestry steadied through a deep respect for his land and traditions as nurtured by his grandfather ‘Mana Roa’ (Great Wisdom).

A mana (Substance of presence) ringing out through his singing, music, art and performance, lifting us above our prejudices. Pioneering fusions of reggae, folk and funk with his mastery of Polynesian ukulele styles, Yoyo Tuki sings out for one of the most remote islands on Earth.

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Photo: Small Island Big Song

Featured on CNN, songwriter, musician and dancer, Emlyn is leading a wave of performers across the Indian Ocean proudly reclaiming their unique rhythms and cultural mix.

Written with a reactive pen and sung in Creole, her songs rebelliously express her concerns for her island’s environment. A cause she has taken up as co-founder of ‘Enn Losean Vivab’, a Mauritius based organisation educating school students about plastic pollution. Emlyn brings the infectious grooves of Sega with its soul from the African slave trade to the stage played on the Ravann, Triangle and Kayamb

Selina is among the global faces of climate change, representing her country in the film ‘Before the Flood’ produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and as the youngest speaker at the COP21 for Paris Agreement, making a passionate plea to global leaders for stronger action on climate change.

Selina can push her audience into a place of understanding and care for her homeland, whilst making them look into the future and see the repercussions of current global actions. Her spoken word pieces have been heard across the globe, and will form the narrative of the show, at times delivered by Selina in person.

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Photo: Luis Barreto, Peace Boat

In 2009 a typhoon devastated Sauljaljui’s village and community, her response was to write “Lament of Colored Cloth” a song which enabled the village to unite their tragedy and recover, winning a prestigious songwriters award in Taiwan.

Two albums and countless international concerts later, Sauljaljui is just as dedicated to her Paiwan community, directing a yearly cultural festival, being the first female leader in her community youth group, and contributing to the community's cultural canon. Recently with her elders, she created a Paiwan warriors song, now regularly performed, the first time a woman has taken this role.

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Photo: Small Island Big Song

Vaiteani is the lead singer songwriter of the Polynesian group bearing her name, with her partner and gifted multi-Instrumentalist Luc, they perform songs as captivating and beautiful as her homeland Tahiti which inspires them. Vaiteani are one of the most popular acts in Polynesia today, a standing they have been able to use to draw awareness to environmental issues.

They sing for her people and nature, with one foot in the world of contemporary music styles, Soul, Folk and the other, exploring the timeless music traditions of her Polynesian heritage. People get moved by the captivating tone of her voice while their songs bring us all to some hidden place where we can discover a deeper substance to the subject.

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Photo: Bruno Drouot

Luc is a gifted multi-Instrumentalist and singer songwriter of the Polynesian group Vaiteani bearing his partner Vaiteani's name, they perform songs as captivating and beautiful as their homeland Tahiti which inspires them. Vaiteani are one of the most popular acts in Polynesia today, a standing they have been able to use to draw awareness to environmental issues.

They sing for their people and nature, with one foot in the world of contemporary music styles, Soul, Folk and the other, exploring the timeless music traditions of Vaiteani's Polynesian heritage. 

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Photo: Delphine Mayeur

Powerful, entrancing, unapologetic all words used to describe Putad’s engaging stage presence. In the proud spirit of her Indigenous Amis heritage Putad unites ancient vocal traditions with raw energy of grunge, rock and punk as her and her brother Wusang’s band Outlet Drift express. Their bold, uplifting and uncompromising shows place their Amis heritage on centre stage at 100db & 100mph as they confront prejudices taking the audience on an unforgettable sonic ride.

In the Small Island Big Song ensemble, she brings this energy, her soaring voice, rock bass along with her coastal Amis ancestry and love for the ocean. A regular surfer, Putad’s connection to the ocean will be brought onto stage and into the outreach program.

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Photo: Small Island Big Song

Madagascar

Taiwan

Singapore

Indonesia

Mauritius

Marshall Islands

Vanuatu

Tahiti

Malaysia

Solomon Islands

Rapa Nui/Easter Island

Papua New Guinea

Torres Strait Australia

Hawaii

Aotearoa/New Zealand

Click to see each artist's' bio, photos and our time with them