‘Tangaroa ✕ Tagaloa: Pasifika popular music and climate justice’

Speakers: Dr Kirsten Zemke and Luka Leleiga Lim-Cowley

Friday 14 June, 1pm-3pm

Faculty of English, room SR24

The Pacific region is one of the most severely impacted areas in the world by climate change; the countries comprising the Pacific, however, are amongst many of the lowest contributors to ecological crisis. This talk will discuss the interconnections between Indigenous Pacific popular music and climate justice, focusing on the music of artists such as Stan Walker, Maisey Rika, Tiki Taane, Te Vaka, Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole, Herbs, and Alien Weaponry. This music, located in drum and bass, heavy metal, Pacific fusion, Pacific reggae, and further genres, provides commentary on and insights into Indigenous Pacific environmental relationalities and praxes of climate justice.

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tangaroa-tagaloa-indigenous-pacific-popular-music-and-climate-justice-tickets-916275082437

Dr Kirsten Zemke (she; they) is a pouako matua (senior lecturer) in ethnomusicology at Te Whare Wānanga o Waipapa Taumata Rau (The University of Auckland). Her research focuses on gendersexuality in popular music, Pasifika popular music, and hip hop.

Luka Leleiga Lim-Cowley (ia; they) is a poet and a doctoral candidate in social anthropology at St Antony’s College. Their main areas of research are Pasifika climate activism, race, gendersexuality, disability, and Pacific Indigeneity.

This event is organised in collaboration with the Indigenous Studies Discussion Group.