Arts festival buzzes with rhythm, colour

By Louisa Cleave

When Sione 'Aleki plays the ukulele he puts more body than soul into the music.

The Tongan musician - described as the Jimi Hendrix of the four-string - uses his hands, feet, teeth, hips and head to produce sounds that have earned him recognition as one of best ukulele players in the world.

The 54-year-old partially sighted man is here to perform at the three-day World of Music Art and Dance (Womad) festival, starting in Auckland on Friday.

Mr 'Aleki says growing up in Tonga with bad eyesight and limited schooling meant his future was bleak - until he discovered music.

"I don't want to sound religious, but in my opinion God gave [the ukulele] to me because he realised I'm not good for anything. I can't play ball. I can't go to school."

In reality, it was Mr 'Aleki's father who got his 6-year-old son hooked with a home-made instrument made from a corned beef can, a stick and some string.

Although a master of nine instruments, Mr 'Aleki has dedicated his life to the ukulele and has travelled the world thrilling audiences with his energetic stage show. "When you put a little bit of crazy in there it makes people laugh."

Mr 'Aleki said he had never heard of Jimi Hendrix before he began similar stage moves of playing the ukulele behind his head while lying on the ground, and with his teeth - which left him with a cut lip at his first attempt in the late 1950s.

"When I heard that story of Jimi Hendrix playing with his teeth I thought I better find something to be a little bit different. Finally, I think there is no other way than to teach my feet how to make music."

Womad features musicians from all around the world, including West Africa, the Tokelau Islands and Jamaica.

The performers can be seen at the Auckland Town Hall and Aotea Centre from Friday night. Stalls and a special Nylon Zoo Theatre, in which children dress in costumes and dance, will operate throughout. A dance party will be held from midnight on Friday until 6 on Saturday morning.

Pictured: Tonga Ukulele player Sione 'Aleki. HERALD PICTURES / RUSSELL SMITH