Australian musician Jeremy Donovan wraps up a nine-day Solomon Islands tour, uniting communities through shared culture.
“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,” said Australian First Nations musician and artist Jeremy Donovan as he concluded a nine-day tour across the Solomon Islands.
Donovan, a Kuku-Yalanji man known internationally for performances at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, Buckingham Palace, and the White House, embarked on the visit to strengthen cultural ties between Australia and the Solomon Islands. During his tour, he visited nine schools, five marketplaces, a church, and a hospital spanning Central, Makira-Ulawa, and Guadalcanal provinces.
Throughout his journey, Donovan showcased his traditional didgeridoo—referred to as “yiki-yiki” in his native language—demonstrating its unique sounds by imitating iconic Australian animals such as the kangaroo, dingo, kookaburra, and saltwater crocodile, alongside the Solomon Islands’ national bird, the kukukuru.
In Central Province, the artist was hosted at several educational institutions, including MacMahon Community High School (joined 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. He also performed at Tulagi Market, a facility recently refurbished under a SBD1.52 million Solomon Islands–Australia Partnership project aimed at enhancing accessibility and resilience to climate change.
In Makira-Ulawa Province, Donovan visited FM Campbell School, Waimapuru National Secondary School, Manama Primary School, Kokana Community, and Kirakira market and hospital. Following his visit to FM Campbell School, Honourable Stanley Siapu, Premier of Makira-Ulawa Province, expressed gratitude for the program that underscores the importance of maintaining kastom traditions in the modern era.
Highlighting shared cultural heritage, Donovan also attended mass at St Barnabas Anglican Cathedral in Honiara on February 9, 2025, and performed at White River Market, Honiara Central Market, and Kukum Market—facilities improved through the Solomon Islands–Australia Partnership.
Australian High Commissioner His Excellency Rod Hilton remarked, “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.”
Source: AHC
