A Bit Na Ta

An ambitious cross-cultural project between Australia and Papua New Guinea, A Bit Na Ta (The Source of the Sea) focuses on the oral history and culture of the Tolai people from Papua New Guinea's East New Britain Province. Specially commissioned as an audio-visual installation for a PNG exhibition at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, the collaboration features Aussie project leader-producer David Bridie and renowned PNG songman George Telek, along with numerous other musicians from the Rabaul (Gunantuna) region.

The album highlights the tumultuous 100-year period from 1875-1975, when New Britain was first under German control, before being captured by Britain during World War I, then being administered by Australia and again captured by the Japanese in 1942. The indigenous Tolai remained strong throughout, with music always playing an important role.

Sung in the Kuanua language, the evocative, translated lyrics speak of ceremony, initiation, clans, tabu (shell money), canoes and the wild Melanesian Sea. With spirit dances and special women's songs, the 26 tracks on A Bit Na Ta mix traditional and contemporary songs featuring local choirs, string bands and individual singers. This is a beautifully produced and packaged presentation and both artistically and educationally it's the epitome of what a successful collaboration ought to be.