11 January, 2026, 10:45 am Central - 26°C Rain

Raikadroka says the hardest thing was the feeling of abandonment, being left and unwanted, and she had a lot of anger

Raikadroka says the hardest thing was the feeling of abandonment, being left and unwanted, and she had a lot of anger

By Vijay Narayan
22/08/2025

Our family broke down when I was about 1 year old, my family was deported from Australia back to Fiji.

Musician, lawyer, and survivor, Natalie Raikadroka highlighted this on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan as she spoke about her very violent upbringing while growing up around her father and mother, and she said she cannot speak about the real violent episodes in the house on the show.

Raikadroka says her father’s family was the first safety net for her and her brother as her father was always in and out of prison.

She says one of the most hardest things to survive while growing up without their biological parents.

Raikadroka says it was the feeling of abandonment, being left and unwanted, and she had a lot of anger.

The show went beyond the music and the stage lights.

From being deported as a toddler, living under a house and studying by candlelight, to facing abuse, judgement, and stigma – Raikadroka has walked through struggles that many in Fiji can relate to but she has also risen, with education, music, and sheer resilience, to carve out her own path.

FEATURE NEWS
People’s Alliance calls for genuine consultations on electricity price increase
The People’s Alliance Party is calling on the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission to fix the way public consultations on the proposed electri...
2 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Iran medics describe hospitals overwhelmed with dead and injured protesters
Staff at three hospitals in Iran have told the BBC their facilities are overwhelmed with dead or injured patients, as major anti-government protests ...
30 minutes ago

Poetry and culture take centre stage during World Hindi Day celebrations
The Indian High Commission in Fiji hosted a vibrant poetry recital, essay awards, and cultural programs to mark World Hindi Day, celebrating the ...
39 minutes ago

Police officers warned over alleged Votualevu brutality incident
Officers involved in an alleged case of police brutality in Votualevu, Nadi, have been warned about their conduct.This comes after a video ...
2 hours ago

Flights disrupted after lightning affects runway lights at Nadi Airport
Several passengers were affected after the Nadi International Airport experienced a temporary disruption to the runway edge lights for both runways ...
2 hours ago

Fiji’s hospitals go digital with AI equipped X-ray upgrade
Fiji’s health system moves into the digital age with major X-ray upgrade equipped with artificial intelligence to provide improved services to all ...
2 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Electricity tariff increase for users consuming more than 100 units
There is an increase in the electricity tariff rate for consumers using more than 100 units from 1 January next year.Fijian Competition and Consumer ...
9 days ago

Fiji needs to act on human trafficking indicators associated with Grace Road Group
The United States remains deeply concerned about indicators of trans-national organised crime and human trafficking in Fiji associated with the Grace ...
20 days ago

Cheap seed oils are not good for our health - O'Neill
With over 80 percent of deaths in Fiji caused by cardiovascular disease based on the 2011 report, naturopath and nutritionist Barbara O’Neill is ...
20 days ago

TOP