By Sasha Pei-Silovo – EM TV Online
PNG’s hottest musical act’s JOKEMA, and pride of host province, Morobe, is set to entice and wow the crowd at the Opening Ceremony of the 6th BSP PNG Games in Lae, this Sunday 16 November.
The group travelled to Lae on Friday, from Port Moresby.
Lead singer and face of the iconic Jokema group, Honly Issac, is a son of Morobe, hailing from Butibum village located to the east of the Bumbu River and north of Busu Road in the Ahi LLG of Lae. The Ahi people are customary landowners of Lae city.
Honly Issac with Randall Betuela a.k.a ‘Nexuz’ of Jokema are backed up by elite PNG musicians, some of who are also Morobeans, and together they will be on stage to celebrate with the rest of Morobe in welcoming their country men and women, from the participating 19 provinces to their home, for the PNG Games.
The band includes renowned drummer, John ‘Muku’ Hakalitz, part Garaina in southern Morobe; brother and sister Clive and Prissy Mayu, the former on keys and latter as backup vocalist, both part Finchaffen; and Adrian ‘Sledge’ Gedisa, the guitarist, from Siassi (Umboi) island. They are joined by Andy Miro on the keyboard and Yule islander, George Ryley Tauna on the bass.
Jokema are a household name in PNG music, with a string of popular hits in ‘Jix Ambe’ (the Kange anthem), ‘O’Mam’, ‘Love eternal’, ‘Meri Milne Bay’, among others and ‘Morobe Feeling’ a signature hit for the proud ‘kumuls’ of Morobe.
Jokema will also perform the PNG Games song at the ceremony. The games anthem was performed in front of a packed audience at the EM TV Vocal Fusion grand final night.
The 6th BSP PNG Games opening ceremony will also feature performances by fellow Morobean, and famous local singer K-Dumen from Boana, Nawaeb District and Australian pop singer and actress Christina Anu.
EM TV will telecast the opening ceremony live on Sunday from 1:30 to 5:30pm.
