ROSILOA
Formerly Black Rose
Ramblings from Peter Cahill
Tour Manager/Sound Engineer
ROSILOA/BLACKROSE……The People
From the group of young boys who started as
BlackRose back in 1994, only two remain.
Jim Ratusila, and Peter Chong, have carried the
torch for more than a decade.
To maintain any group, anywhere in the world for this
length of time is rare, and shows a true commitment
to the creation, and belief in your art.
Many have “jumped on the bus” and enjoyed the fruits
of the efforts but alas when the bus turns sharply,
they have fallen off again.
It has always been the group’s belief that things happen
for a reason, and while many trials and tribulations
have been faced along the way, good always comes from bad.
There have been, and will be, many times when the group
turns to tea and kasava for survival.
The belief in the music, the faith in the creator
and the love of each other ensures the survival
of this group, and when things are really grim,
someone always walks in the door with some yaqona,
cigarettes, and another bundle of kasava.
When a member leaves, another, more skilled
and more committed arrives.
Such is the way of Rosiloa.
Rosiloa have always, and continue to be surrounded
by a group of loyal and true friends who appreciate the music
and the efforts put in by these people to ensure
Fijian music and culture continues to be showcased
throughout the world.
The group enjoys a growing fan base around the world
and the “
needed during the travels.
There have been many critics, much jealousy and
those who know a “better way”.
To those people who spend their days sitting around
the market, wondering what went wrong….its about commitment,
hard work, and sacrifice, and most of all, loyalty.
Peter Cahill
Aotearoa
