Jandal Jam 2021 bigger and better than ever for its 10th-anniversary show

One of the cornerstone goals of the Jandal Jam showcase is to inspire future Pasifika generations - job well done Horowhenua College.

The Horowhenua College hall was filled with Pasifika pride and talent last week, when the annual youth cultural showcase Jandal Jam hit the stage.

The evening was opened by the deputy chairman of Fale Pasifika Horowhenua, Rob Fifita-Tovo, who welcomed the audience to what was the ninth production in the show's 10-year history, with 2020's showcase having to be cancelled due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Fetu Pasifika performing arts group's inaugural public performance at Jandal Jam 2021.

Fala Matua and Sia Fuauli, two previous Jandal Jam participants, were the showcase hosts and kept the audience entertained in between the cultural numbers.

The show opened with the Waiopehu College Polynesian group presenting their highly energetic Pasifika Fusion cultural number, which had the audience singing and clapping along.

Next up was the inaugural public performance of the Fetu Pasifika performing arts group, made up of Horowhenua youth aged 13 to 24, of various Pacific islands backgrounds.

This talented group of Pasifika youth had been together for only a month, but all of them were either present or past members of the local colleges' Polynesian cultural groups.

The following hour was filled with a variety of Pacific islands dances and songs, performed by groups from both colleges as well as by Fetu Pasifika.

MPP scholarship award winners Sione 'Aholoka, Rita Poulima, Elizabeth Logologo, Misipeka Ana with representatives Catherine Jeffries and Maureen Tukaroa-Betham and Jandal Jam co-ordinator Sue Hori Te Pa.

At the halfway point of the evening, MC Fuauli got the audience up and moving with a quick Zumba dance number, before handing over to Jandal Jam co-ordinator Sue Hori Te Pa to present the Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) Scholarship Awards.

Four year 13 students were recognised for their passion for Pasifika culture, for academic excellence and for setting a great example to younger people in their Pacific islands communities.

Misipeka Ana from Horowhenua College and Sione 'Aholoka from Waiopehu College each received the MPP's Pacific Leadership Award; while Elizabeth Logologo from Horowhenua College and Rita Poulima from Waiopehu College each received the MPP's Pacific Inspiration Award.

Jandal Jam 2021 ended with the Horowhenua College Poly group wowing the audience with their award-winning Pasifika Fusion 2021 performance.

Jandal Jam audience, including Horowhenua College principal Grant Congdon and Ministry for Pacific Peoples representative Maureen Tukaroa-Betham, getting their Zumba on.

So much passion for their culture shown by the award winning Horowhenua College Polynesian Group at Jandal Jam 2021.

Waiopehu College bringing their performance up close to the audience at Jandal Jam 2021.

Fetu Pasifika entertain the Jandal Jam audience with a Tongan dance.

Pasifika Fusion 2021 cultural group winners, Horowhenua College, sharing their fabulous talent with the Jandal Jam audience.

Waiopehu College Polynesian Cultural group wowing the audience at Jandal Jam 2021.

Waiopehu College Polynesian Group performance at Jandal Jam 2021.