Comment: Article from the Post-Courier about the United States Air Force Band from Hawaii singing the songPage 26 of this PDF has some info on Wan Kantri Bkissin (talk) 15:41, 21 September 2021 (UTC)
"'Wan Kantri" (One Country) is a Papua New Guinean pop song composed in 1990-1991 and recorded in 1992 by the local Rubaul band known as Barike.[1][2][3] The lyric of the chorus draws inspiration from the National Pledge of Papua New Guinea. The popular tune is often sung or performed for national events or national days and arguably the song of choice for Papua New Guinea’s Independence Day.[4] [5]
History
editThe Papua New Guinean band Barike was formed in 1982, the original five members were the late John Wong (lead vocalist), Donald Lessay (lead guitarist), late Glen Low (bass), Matalau Nakikas (keyboard/vocals) and Fabian Tadoi (drums). In the late 1980s John Wong left the group to pursue a solo career, Kanai Pineri joining Barike as their new lead vocalist.
In 1992, guitarists Glen Low and Donald Lessey wrote the lyrics, the lead vocalist Kanaia Pineri helping write and assemble the structure and flow of the lyrics. In an interview with EmTV, Kanai Pineri explained how they all contributed to the song:
"Glenn wrote the song about a journey that began in Ragaga in the Baining area (East New Britain Province) and ended in Namatanai (New Ireland Province). From Namatanai, Donald and I added a few more lyrics and continued with the journey from Namatanai to Kavieng, to Manus, Madang, Lae and all the way to Kutubu which at that time, was a newly established oil project in the Southern Highlands Province."[6]
Pineri further stated they all aimed “to send a message to every Papua New Guinean and promote peace, unity, oneness."[7]
Wan Kantri was recorded at Rabaul, Pacific Gold Studios.
Lyrics
editMi kisim kar long Lamis, North Baining igo dauntaun Rabaul airport
Kalap long balus igo Namatanai
Na karanas i pulim mi go Kavieng, i stap sore
Mi save tingting long yu yet wanwan taim
Tupela day mi stap Lihir ailan, niupela gold mine
Na mi tingting igo bek ken long Bougainville
Na mi sore
Papua Niugini yumi mas kamap wan nesian
Wan kantri, wan femili
Papua Niugini yumi mas kamap wan nesian
Wan solwara, wan pipol
Tripela dei mi bin stap Lombrum Naval Base
Na mi bungim ol manmeri na ol i tokim mi olsem
Papua Niugini yumi mas kamap wan nesian
Wan kantri, wan femili
Papua Niugini yumi mas kamap wan nesian
Wan solwara, wan pipol
Mi kisim balus long Manus Province i go long Madang taun
Mi kisim PMV bus i go daun long Lae, na mi tingting
Bihainim highway i go antap long kol peles Goroka
Na me lusim i go more yet long Mount Hagen, i kol mo yet
Fopela dei mi stap Kutubu, niupela oil projek
Na mi tingting i go bek ken long Bougainville, olsem wonem?
Papua Niugini yumi mas kamap wan nesian
Wan kantri, wan femili
Papua Niugini yumi mas kamap wan nesian
Wan solwara, wan pipol
- ^ "Commercial Recordings of Papua New Guinea Music". Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies. 1996. p. 5.
- ^ "Papers from Ivilikou - Papua New Guinea Music Conference & Festival (1997)". Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies. 2000. p. 27.
- ^ "'Barike Band - Wan Kantri (Music Video)".
- ^ "Niigana Band, A New Sound". The National. 18 November 2011.
- ^ "US Air Force Band Woos PNG Crowd". The Post Courier. 5 July 2019.
- ^ "Wan Kantri, the song that never dies', EmTV, Sep 13 2017".
- ^ "Wan Kantri, the song that never dies', EmTV, Sep 13 2017".