Tigilau Ness
Encyclopedia
Tigilau Ness is a Niue
an New Zealand
activist and reggae
artist, and performs as Unity Pacific.
Ness is a political activist and first generation Pacific Island New Zealander.
, he was involved in founding the Polynesian Panthers
, a Polynesian rights group modelled after the Black Panthers.
He was active in opposing apartheid and the 1981 Springbok Tour
. He was arrested during a protest march and spent nine months in Mount Eden Prison. Ness also took part in Māori land protests including the occupation of Bastion Point
. He converted to Rastafarianism during this period.
A veteran musician, Ness was one the founders of the reggae group the Twelve Tribes of Israel in the 1970s, and started a band called Unity in 1975. He also worked with the Herbs (band)
. He formed the Unity Reggae Band in 1985, but did not release an album until 2003. His struggles against injustice and problems faced growing up in New Zealand, featured on his album "From Street to Sky". A documentary of the same name about Ness was released in 2008.
Ness is the father of hip hop musician Che Fu
(Che Ness), and often performs as a member of Che's band The Krates.
From Street to Sky is a one-hour documentary on his life directed and produced by Bryn Evans. Named after Ness' long-awaited first album, From Street to Sky screened on Māori Television
in August 2007 and at the New Zealand Film Festival in 2008.
In 2008, Ness featured with his son Che Fu in the documentary Children of the Revolution about the children of political activists in New Zealand which also included Māori activist Tame Iti
, Māori Party Member of Parliament Hone Harawira
, Green Party Member of Parliament Sue Bradford
and anti-apartheid leader John Minto
. Made by Front of the Box Productions, Children of the Revolution screened on Māori Television and won Best Māori Language Programme at the Qantas Television Awards
2008. Also in 2008, Ness was the subject of a half-hour art documentary Tigilau Ness on The Gravy Art Series made by Sticky Pictures and screened on TVNZ6.
Niue
Niue , is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean. It is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia", and inhabitants of the island call it "the Rock" for short. Niue is northeast of New Zealand in a triangle between Tonga to the southwest, the Samoas to the northwest, and the Cook Islands to...
an New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
activist and reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
artist, and performs as Unity Pacific.
Ness is a political activist and first generation Pacific Island New Zealander.
Lifetime achievement award
In May 2009, Ness was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 5th Pacific Music Awards in Auckland, New Zealand in recognition of more than 30 years in the music industry.Background
After being expelled from high school in 1971 for refusing to cut his afroAfro
Afro, sometimes shortened to fro and also known as a "natural", is a hairstyle worn naturally by people with lengthy kinky hair texture or specifically styled in such a fashion by individuals with naturally curly or straight hair...
, he was involved in founding the Polynesian Panthers
Polynesian Panthers
The Polynesian Panther Party was an organisation founded by New Zealand born Polynesians on June 16, 1971.The party was explicitly influenced by the American Black Panther Party, particularly Huey Newton’s policy of black unity. They located the causes of Māori and Pacific Island oppression within...
, a Polynesian rights group modelled after the Black Panthers.
He was active in opposing apartheid and the 1981 Springbok Tour
1981 Springbok Tour
The 1981 South African rugby union tour of New Zealand was a controversial tour of New Zealand by the South Africa national rugby union team, known as "the Springboks"...
. He was arrested during a protest march and spent nine months in Mount Eden Prison. Ness also took part in Māori land protests including the occupation of Bastion Point
Bastion Point
Bastion Point is a coastal piece of land in Orakei, Auckland, New Zealand, overlooking the Waitemata Harbour. The area has significance in New Zealand history for its role in 1970s Māori protests against forced land alienation by non Māori New Zealanders.-History:The land was occupied by Ngāti...
. He converted to Rastafarianism during this period.
A veteran musician, Ness was one the founders of the reggae group the Twelve Tribes of Israel in the 1970s, and started a band called Unity in 1975. He also worked with the Herbs (band)
Herbs (band)
Herbs are a New Zealand reggae vocal group formed in 1979 once described as "New Zealand's most soulful, heartfelt and consistent contemporary musical voice". It has been said their debut EP Whats' Be Happen? "set a standard for Pacific reggae which has arguably never been surpassed".-History:Herbs...
. He formed the Unity Reggae Band in 1985, but did not release an album until 2003. His struggles against injustice and problems faced growing up in New Zealand, featured on his album "From Street to Sky". A documentary of the same name about Ness was released in 2008.
Ness is the father of hip hop musician Che Fu
Che Fu
Che Fu MNZM is a New Zealand Hip hop/R&B and Reggae recording artist and producer. Originally one part of the band Supergroove, as a solo artist he has gone on to sell thousands of albums both in New Zealand and internationally, including in Australia and the UK.-History:Fu is one of New Zealand's...
(Che Ness), and often performs as a member of Che's band The Krates.
Documentaries
Ness has featured in documentaries.From Street to Sky is a one-hour documentary on his life directed and produced by Bryn Evans. Named after Ness' long-awaited first album, From Street to Sky screened on Māori Television
Maori Television
Māori Television is a New Zealand TV station broadcasting programmes that make a significant contribution to the revitalisation of the Māori language and culture . Funded by the New Zealand Government, the station started broadcasting on 28 March 2004 from a base in Newmarket.Te Reo is the...
in August 2007 and at the New Zealand Film Festival in 2008.
'From Street To Sky is an interesting and touching look at a caring rebel, a formidable protester, and talented musician whose songs reflect a life devoted to unity and compassion.' NZ Herald, July 2008
In 2008, Ness featured with his son Che Fu in the documentary Children of the Revolution about the children of political activists in New Zealand which also included Māori activist Tame Iti
Tame Iti
Tāme Wairere Iti has become well known in New Zealand as a Tūhoe Māori activist.- Early life :Born on a train near Rotorua, Tame Iti grew up with his grandparents in the custom known as whāngai on a farm near Ruatoki in the Urewera area of New Zealand...
, Māori Party Member of Parliament Hone Harawira
Hone Harawira
Hone Pani Tamati Waka Nene Harawira is a New Zealand Māori activist and parliamentarian. He was elected to the Parliament of New Zealand for the Māori electorate of Te Tai Tokerau in the 2005 general election as the Māori Party candidate. His resignation caused the Te Tai Tokerau by-election, held...
, Green Party Member of Parliament Sue Bradford
Sue Bradford
Sue Bradford is a New Zealand politician who served as a list Member of Parliament representing the Green Party from 1999 to 2009.- Early life :...
and anti-apartheid leader John Minto
John Minto
John Minto is a New Zealand based political activist known for his involvement in various left-wing groups and causes, most notably Halt All Racist Tours. A 2005 documentary on New Zealand's top 100 history makers listed him as number 89. Today he is involved with the protest group Global Peace...
. Made by Front of the Box Productions, Children of the Revolution screened on Māori Television and won Best Māori Language Programme at the Qantas Television Awards
Qantas Television Awards
The Aotearoa Film & Television Awards, formerly known as the Qantas Television Awards, are presented by the New Zealand Television Broadcasters' Council...
2008. Also in 2008, Ness was the subject of a half-hour art documentary Tigilau Ness on The Gravy Art Series made by Sticky Pictures and screened on TVNZ6.
External links
- "Higher stepping man", biographical article in The Southland Times, September 21, 2007
- NZ Musician magazine article
- Ness at Muzic.net.nz