Australian First Nations musician and artist Kuku-Yalanji man Mr Jeremy Donovan has concluded his visit to Solomon Islands.
Over 9-days, he visited nine schools, five marketplaces, a church and a hospital across Central, Makira-Ulawa and Guadalcanal Provinces.
An internationally famous Aboriginal musician and artist, Jeremy Donovan has performed all around the world, including at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, at Buckingham Palace for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and at the White House for President Bill Clinton.
He visited Solomon Islands in 2024 and performed in Western, Malaita and Guadalcanal Provinces.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (Australia’s First Nations) are the kastom landowners of Australia; with 65,000 years of history and continuous culture, and deep and ongoing connections with the Pacific, including Solomon Islands.
With him, Mr Donovan brought his didgeridoo, a famous native Australian instrument called ‘yiki-yiki’ in the langus of Jeremy’s people. To the delight of children and adults alike, Mr Donovan showed how he can imitate the sound of iconic Australian animals like the kangaroo, dingo, kookaburra, and saltwater crocodile, as well as Solomon Islands’ national bird, the kukukuru.
Mr Donovan also spoke about his life journey, and about the transformative power of education. His message for the young people of Solomon Islands was “once upon a time I thought dreams were for privileged people only. I didn’t believe that poor people, like me, were entitled to dream. But my grandfather, a kastom leader, taught me that dreams are free, and if you don’t have a dream then you don’t have a destination in life.
All young people must have a dream which gives them purpose”. In Central Province, Mr Jeremy Donovan was welcomed at MacMahon Community High School (and was joined there by Honourable Michael Salini, Premier of Central Province), Marvin Community High School, Taroniara Community High School, Henry Koga Primary School, and Gelailau Community High School, as well as performing at Tulagi Market.
His performance at Tulagi market was special because in 2024 the Solomon Islands – Australia Partnership refurbished this facility. The SBD1.52 million project delivered a new roof, water tanks, paving and other improvements, making the market accessible for wheelchair users and more resilient to climate change.
In Makira-Ulawa Province, Mr Donovan visited FM Campbell School, Waimapuru National Secondary School, Manama Primary School, Kokana Community, and Kirakira market and hospital. Honourable Stanley Siapu, Premier of Makira-Ulawa Province, joined Mr Donovan at FM Campbell School, and afterwards said “thank you Australia for bringing this important program to our province. It helped our children to understand the value and importance of maintaining kastom tradition in the modern day.”
In recognition of Australia and Solomon Islands’ shared Christian heritage, Mr Donovan also visited St Barnabas Anglican Cathedral in Honiara on Sunday 9 February 2025, attending mass and meeting with worshippers afterwards to perform and share his stori.
He also performed at White River Market, Honiara Central Market and Kukum Market – these facilities have all been built or refurbished under the Solomon Islands – Australia Partnership.
Of his visit, Mr Jeremy Donovan said “this has been an incredible opportunity for cultural exchange. I’ve now visited five of Solomon Islands’ nine beautiful provinces, and we’ve brought our kastom cultures closer together.”
Australian High Commissioner His Excellency Rod Hilton said, “Australia and Solomon Islands share deep cultural connections, as Jeremy has reminded us with his visit, celebrating kastom culture with pikinini and continuing the cultural exchange between our nations.”
Australia and Solomon Islands share an ocean and a future – the spirit and energy of our people, our ancestries and cultures are our greatest asset.
ENDS///….
