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emilymuli

@emilymuli

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Kuleki & his lil sis Kiana-Lei 🌺
Our whole world right here 🥹 by @emilymuli

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18 days ago

Ko ‘etau hiva, ko e fe’unu mahu’inga ia ki he mo’ui ‘a e Tonga - our music is a vital strand of our Tongan culture 🇹🇴

My journey with Tongan music in particular has always given me these full circle moments. Our lea fakafonua has grounded me & connected me to my story in more ways than I can count 🧬

Sharing some of these moments (& stories) because it will always be ‘Otua mo Tonga ❤️‍🔥

My late grandfather, Henele Vaka Muli, was a Tongan composer, singer & artist. He penned ‘Paea ‘i Vaiola’ for my grandmother, Lupi, & her unborn child (my dad) from Vaiola Hospital.

The story goes that he was hired by my great grandfather, Manitisa, to paint their bus (he was a wealthy businessman). He locked eyes with Lupi, fell in love & ran away to get married (he was considered lower status). When Manitisa found out she was pregnant, they asked her to come back to her home, ‘Api ko e Lea ‘a e Tevolo in Fua’amotu, on the condition that my grandfather does not return with them.

She chose to go back to raise my dad, but Henele was so heartbroken that he ended up ill & at Vaiola Hospital where this song was written.

Audio is playing over footage of him, his artwork (circa 90s) & me doing my final tau’olunga on my wedding day to ‘Paea ‘i Vaiola.’

Fast forward to 2021 & I’m asked to perform for the Auckland Arts Festival, Hine! show which was held at the Civic Theatre.

Couple days out, I decided to do my own rendition of my grandfather’s song with my own English lyrics as my way of interpreting their love story.

It’s not often we get to hear our Lea FakaTonga ring in the Civic, so this was special 🥹

& that same year, I won my first Pacific Music Award & got to perform. I started my set with the same song - written for the woman I’m named after -

full circle.

Nearing the end of COP25 (climate talks) in Madrid, Spain, the team asked if I wanted to represent the Pacific on one of the panels.

We were all pretty exhausted, & frankly frustrated that so many of our calls to listen to indigenous voices fell on deaf ears.

Himi 114 seemed to be my only response, albeit shaky & on the verge of tears, but it seemed fitting to sing this in that space & be wrapped in th by @emilymuli

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2 months ago

Siulai — KJ takes up everyone’s camera roll atp 😂 by @emilymuli

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3 months ago

my son has only ever known to be proud of his culture.

thankful to have played a small part in this journey with people who just want our community to thrive in every possible way 🌊 serving alongside such a talented team has been a continuous reminder that the next gen, my son, don’t need to look far to find giants.

‘til the next whistle fam ❤️‍🔥
@moanapasifika by @emilymuli

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5 months ago

the very best of us 🤎 #1 by @emilymuli

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9 months ago

celebrating the Salts w our aho tahas 🥹 taken in Warrawong Estate by @emilymuli

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9 months ago

been struggling to find the words, but that’s what loving you feels like - indescribable. happy birthday son, you have completely changed our lives for the better.

what a year @craigsio 🥺 by @emilymuli

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9 months ago

Tairāwhiti had my mate’s knee tingling 🤣 taken in Gisborne, New Zealand by @emilymuli

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9 months ago

Ōtautahi w the fam 🔥 last chance w your voiceover @ivan_productions taken in Christchurch, New Zealand by @emilymuli

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9 months ago

48hr shift ✅ 8 years deep w this team! always an honour sis @aaradhna ❤️‍🔥 taken in Gold Coast by @emilymuli

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9 months ago

a year indeed ❤️‍🔥 merry christmas from ours to yours! by @emilymuli

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10 months ago

2 years locked in 🔒 what a ride @craigsio!! so many answered prayers & blessings — here’s to many more ❤️‍🔥

📹 moments from the big party we threw for KJ’s village, courtesy of @ben.journee (so glad we opted for film AND doco because this day is 1000% my fave movie 😭)

last clip 🥹 by @emilymuli

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a year ago