Sugarcane worker by day and hip hop and reggae artist by night, Peni Tupou Roqara has taken out Pacific Break 2023's top prize with his track Sema Mai, beating a record 366 individual song entries from across the Pacific.
The Fijian artist, known as Ju Ben, will now go on to perform at WOMADelaide, Australia's largest international music festival next year.
Infusing musical genres with traditional storytelling, his lyrics discuss social issues including mental health and politics, delivered in the Fijian iTaukei language.
The artist said he was proud to take out the win.
"I can't tell you how much I'm proud right now," he told Nesia Daily.
"[I want to ] reach out to the world with Fijian tastes that I have in music, and to produce more great music from the Pacific."
Ju Ben's winning song, Sema Mai aims to inspire young people to overcome life's challenges by staying positive.
"Sema Mai has a deep meaning behind it, and it speaks mainly to young individuals like myself, encouraging them to have a positive mindset and to surround themselves with others who motivate and support them," he said.
Hailing from Lomainasau, in Tailevu Province, Fiji, Ju Ben has been writing poetry since high school.
But it wasn't until his cousin introduced him to hip-hop that his musical journey began.
"My songs are based on real-life things that happen in most young people's lives," he said.
"So for me, everything I've been through, like if I put it into a song, most young individuals will relate with.
"If at least one person it relates with and touches them, it really matters to me."
He cites "old school rappers" such as Tupac and Redman as his musical influences, and his cousin for introducing him to hip hop.
"I really liked it because of the strong message they bring to the music," he said.
"I've been writing poetry since I was in high school. So I already loved writing poetry… [combining] that with hip hop. So that's where it all started."
Pacific music is thriving
Three times the number of artists entered this year's Pacific Break competition compared to last year, but Ju Ben was unanimously awarded first place for his musicality, passion and versatility by the judges.
"Ju Ben stood out for his optimism, his natural talent as a performer, and the versatility of his sound," Pacific Break 2023 judge Sosefina Fuamoli said.
"There were a lot of artists who could have easily owned the stage there and I hope to see them return to the competition next year. If anything, it has proven that music in the Pacific is thriving right now, and this is so exciting."
The judging panel also comprised WOMADelaide Associate Director Annette Tripodi, PNG-born Australian artist Ngaiire, Australian hip hop artist, producer and host of ABC Radio Australia's In The Fale Hau Latukefu, and host of ABC Radio Australia's Island Music Rick Howe.
Ju Ben is the eighth person to claim the Pacific Break crown since the competition was launched in 2008 to unearth unsigned talent from across the Pacific region.
He also shared his favourite line from his winning song.
"Stop the talk and start doing the work," he said.
Original story link https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/fijian-rapper-ju-ben-wins-pacific-break-2023/103078950
Story by ABC Pacific
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