Waiata Bros album – OUT NOW!
Māoriland releases ‘Waiata Bros’ – a reo Māori album aimed at getting everyone excited about te reo Māori.
The album is now available to stream on all major music platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music. Each waiata is accompanied by an animated music video, available to watch on YouTube.
20-year-old animator Turanga Mahutonga (Taranaki, Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue) has created Waiata Bros: a series of fun animated music videos that teach words and phrases in te reo Māori for everyone to sing along to.
Waiata Bros started when Turanga moved to Ōtaki in 2021 for an animation intensifier course at the Māoriland Tech Creative Hub – MATCH.
For his graduation project Turanga presented an animation of waiata and te reo Māori aimed at tamariki. The tune was a hit right away with children and adults alike. Turanga knew he was onto something.
“I was very fortunate to grow up with te reo Māori and a Māori worldview. I also grew skills in art and music. Now despite that, there are Māori children who do not have the language because they didn’t grow up in a Māori world, thanks to the nature of a society that kidnapped the Māori language. If the Māori language dies the Māori people will die. Therefore it is my intention to help give life to the reo – no matter what!”
Earlier in the month, Turanga launched Waiata Bros with two special listening parties for local tamariki kura. The responses from all who attended were extremely positive, with many kids eager to sing along to these catchy tunes.
About the launch, Turanga says, “It was a great day, very proactive. It seems like the kids not only enjoyed themselves but were also keen to support the kaupapa and learn the songs – they caught on so quickly.”
Turanga is a smart and personable interviewee in te reo Māori and English. For an interview or other details please contact:
Jess Berghan
+64211352036