In a momentous achievement, Primanavia Fiji clinched the gold medal and emerged victorious in the Folklore and Indigenous Music with Choreography category at the recently held 13th World Choir Games 2024 held in Auckland, New Zealand.
Primanavia, a remarkable choir composed of Pasifika Prima Voce and ManaVia, joined forces to represent Fiji on the global stage.
The 10-day World Choir Games, known as the “Olympics of singing,” are the largest choral competition globally, drawing over 11,000 singers from more than 30 countries.
23-member Fijian choir’s director, Sunia Soko, led the group at the 13th World Choir Games, guiding them to an extraordinary victory.
Soko described the win as surreal and a testament to their rigorous preparation of the members aged between 11 and 40:
“We started but we only had a month and three weeks at that time. We had to think about logistics, production, and the cost.”
Despite the challenges, Soko and his sister organised fundraisers and reached out to corporate organisations for sponsorship. Their efforts were rewarded when Fiji Airways, the Fiji Arts Council, and the New Zealand Foreign Affairs Ministry provided the necessary support.
Interestingly, for many of the choir members, this was their first experience travelling by plane. Soko shared:
“Seventy percent of our kids are on the plane for the first time. I’m so thankful that we not only represented Fiji, but we also represented the Pacific.”
Soko believes that singing is part of the Fijian DNA:
“We sing at funerals, when we have kava, we sing everywhere. This is something that we can do really well. We do not have to mimic any other style.”
Nagaland Madrigal Singers, a relatively young ensemble founded in 2023, represented India at the games. Based in Dimapur, this talented Indian group presented their exceptional vocal skill and the rich musical heritage of Nagaland.
Earlier, Nagaland’s Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has expressed his support and best wishes to the choir: “I wish them the best and hope they bring laurels to the country, and make us proud.”
The biennial event World Choir Games, established in 2000, have grown into the largest festival and competition globally. INTERKULTUR, a German company dedicated to fostering international understanding through choral music, organises the World Choir Games.
Fiji’s Primanavia is now gearing up for the Tri-Nations competition set to be held in Denmark next year, where elite choirs who have won competitions like the World Choir Games will compete.
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