For Rotumans who grew up in New Zealand, more than 2700 kilometres away from their home islands, it can be hard to picture the way their parents or grandparents were raised.

How did they get to school? What did they eat and drink? What did they do for work?

Its that curiosity that Rotuman composer Darlene Inia channels in her music for her community. When it comes to dances, or tautoga, the lyrics are almost always about life on Rotuma for those who have yet to see it themselves.

Darlene Inia/Supplied

A Rotuman community group during Rotuman Language Week 2021.

In one song, the Auckland womans lyrics describe the youth gathering and trying their best to imagine the life on Rotuma their elders had.

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The elders respond to them, telling them about the clean white sands, the clear blue ocean that surrounds the islands, the lush nature of Rotuma and its yams and taro.

Supplied

Darlene Inia learned to write Rotuman music from her mother and aunt.

These are the scenes we try to capture, by listening to our elders, Inia said.

Inia, who lives in Glendene, has been composing traditional Rotuman music since she was young and learnt the trade from her mother and other elders in her family.

When she was in her 20s, she wrote her first piece of original music and two decades later she is still going.

When she writes, Inia wants to bring contemporary influences into her work, but carefully, not to stray too far from tradition.

She consults often with her family and other elders in the community, who guide her, she said.

Spoken Rotuman is quite different to sung Rotuman, so Inia said she was careful to check her grammar and vocabulary with her elders.

I am of that younger generation where out of respect I still consult with my elders. That is a Rotuman value. The last thing I want is to deviate from the tradition.

However, she said she was always looking for ways to make the traditions fun and engaging, especially for the youngest Rotumans out there.

We cant live without one another, our elderly and our young. If youre looking at the survival of heritage, you cant live without one another, its always collaborative. You need to talk to one another and bounce ideas off each other.

Inia teaches groups of young people to perform traditional dances and songs, as well as more contemporary numbers.

In 2021 she was honoured with the Toa Award from the Ministry of Pacific Peoples for her services to the language and the community.

Ka sei ta ou asa? What is your name?

Otou asa le __________ My name is __________

Ka e le ne tei? Where are you from?

Gou le ne __________ I am from ___________

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Rotuman Language Week: Music summons the islands for the young - Stuff