Details

Latitude

-4.210705

Longitude

152.1745

Start Date

1993-06-16

End Date

1993-06-16

Tape#1: Musical Journey of Rex Band and Roboam Mael. Side A: Rex Band Bongas Sikango is the band leader of Rex Band of Finschafen in Morobe Province. Bongas was born in 1968 and his band members in Casper Kumbu (lead guitar) and Donald Awi (drums) are all in the same age group. They started their musical journey in 1982 when they began following a local band called FIKASI (Finschafen, Kabum, Siassi) and learnt playing instruments then later formed their own Rex Band in 1984. Rex Band main style of music is reggae with popular songs in the PNG music scene of Swit Finsch and Sengungefo. Their first album recording was in 1989 with Chin H Meen studios (CHM) then later recorded subsequent albums with Pacific Gold Sudios (PGS) and were in Rabaul for their new album recording in 1993. PGS musicians and sound engineers Donald Lessey and Patti Doi assisted in the production of their recordings. Rex Band started their music with traditional (tubuna) songs learnt from older people and played with modern band instruments coming from local languages such as Kote, Mape, Pindiu, Dedua in the Finschafen area and Tok Pisin. The band later focused on the reggae style music and Bongas favourite overseas bands are Bob Marley and Lucky Dude where their inspire the style of music. They also perform in various concerts or festivals organised in Lae and Port Moresby and keep on improving or looking at ways to make their music popular and attracting fans in PNG. Side B: Roboam Mael Roboam Mael was born on 15th December 1932 at Molot, Watnabara in Duke of York Islands. He was the son of a Pastor-Teacher who trained at George Brown Colleges of Methodist Church at Watnabara and Vunairima in north coast of Gazelle Peninsula. Roboam's early childhood was in New Ireland Province on Tabar Island and Losu, central New Ireland from 1936 - 1941. His family returned to Watnabara in 1942 when the second world war broke out with Japanese occupation where alot of people were killed and his father amongst many villages=rs and church workers were imprisioned. Roboam was later trained as a pastor-teacher at George Brown College, Vunairima and learnt music. After graduation in 1952 he continued as a teacher of pastoral work and music at the College from 1953. During his early schooling life he was in choirs singing in competitions then later at the College he became choir master, conductor and also had their choir compete and won many awards at choral festivals. He then further his teaching education at Kerevat central school where he was the Chaplin at the same time studying due to his pastoral background where he was using his training. The Education Department requested that he works in government schools so he joined and also established 2 new schools in the Duke of York Islands. Roboam was later posted to East Sepik Province where he taught at various schools and later transferred to Madang where he also completed Headmasters Certificate and continued in that role till 1972. During his time on the New Guinea mainland, he was involved with choirs and also teaching Kuanua songs where they also competed in competitions and awarded top prizes. In 1973, he returned to East New Britain Province and continued his teaching work at various schools and his last posting was in Watnabar where he started his education where he retired in 1986. In 1987, he returned pastoral work with United Church (formerly Methodist Church) and Pentecostal Church in Duke of York Islands. Roboam has enjoyed his musical, teaching and pastoral work and journey as a career and into retirement. (Steven Gagau, March 2020)

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