Tigilau Ness (born 19 May 1955[1]) is a NiueanNew Zealand activist and reggae artist, and performs as Unity Pacific. Ness is a political activist and first generation Pacific Island New Zealander.
In May 2009, Ness was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the fifth Pacific Music Awards in Auckland, New Zealand in recognition of more than 30 years in the music industry.[2]
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 Rastafari during this period.
A veteran musician, Ness was one of 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 band 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 Ness), and often performs as a member of Che's band The Krates.
Documentariesedit
Ness has featured in documentaries.
From Street to Sky is a one-hour documentary on his life directed and produced by Bryn Evans.[3] Named after Ness' long-awaited first album, From Street to Sky screened on Māori Television in August 2007[4] 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[5]
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.[6] 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. In 2011, Ness and Che Fu were featured in Sons from Afar, a documentary for Māori TV in which they travelled to their homeland of Mutalau, Niue for the first time together.[7]
tigilau, ness, born, 1955, niuean, zealand, activist, reggae, artist, performs, unity, pacific, ness, political, activist, first, generation, pacific, island, zealander, contents, lifetime, achievement, award, background, documentaries, references, external, l. Tigilau Ness born 19 May 1955 1 is a Niuean New Zealand activist and reggae artist and performs as Unity Pacific Ness is a political activist and first generation Pacific Island New Zealander Contents 1 Lifetime achievement award 2 Background 3 Documentaries 4 References 5 External linksLifetime achievement award editIn May 2009 Ness was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the fifth Pacific Music Awards in Auckland New Zealand in recognition of more than 30 years in the music industry 2 Background editAfter being expelled from Mt Albert Grammar in 1971 for refusing to cut his afro 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 Maori land protests including the occupation of Bastion Point He converted to Rastafari during this period A veteran musician Ness was one of 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 band 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 Ness and often performs as a member of Che s band The Krates Documentaries editNess has featured in documentaries From Street to Sky is a one hour documentary on his life directed and produced by Bryn Evans 3 Named after Ness long awaited first album From Street to Sky screened on Maori Television in August 2007 4 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 5 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 Maori activist Tame Iti Maori 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 Maori Television and won Best Maori Language Programme at the Qantas Television Awards 2008 6 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 In 2011 Ness and Che Fu were featured in Sons from Afar a documentary for Maori TV in which they travelled to their homeland of Mutalau Niue for the first time together 7 References edit https www nzonscreen com title the gravy series one episode four tigilau ness 2007 Polynesian Blue Pacific Music Awards Event Archived from the original on 8 October 2011 Retrieved 16 November 2011 From Street to Sky Archived from the original on 23 June 2008 Retrieved 26 July 2009 From Street to Sky Tigilau Ness Throng Throng co nz 19 August 2007 Retrieved 3 January 2019 Scott Kara and Peter Calder 25 July 2008 Film fest picks The New Zealand Herald Retrieved 22 November 2011 2008 Winners Qantas Film amp Television awards Archived from the original on 23 December 2008 Retrieved 26 July 2009 SONS FROM AFAR Ngataonga org nz Retrieved 3 July 2018 External links edit Higher stepping man biographical article in The Southland Times 21 September 2007 NZ Musician magazine article Ness at Muzic net nz Tigilau Ness Profile at AudioCulture Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tigilau Ness amp oldid 1168869597, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
