F or Australia-based singer-songwriter Lea ‘Lele’ Firth – whose late father was the frontman of legendary West Papuan rock- reggae band Black Brothers in the 1970s and 80s – coming to PNG to perform later this year definitely feels like a homecoming. “When I come to Papua New Guinea it’s like, it’s a different feeling you know?” said Lele – whose stage name is Voice of Lele – speaking via a Zoom chat from her adopted home of Melbourne, Australia. “It is like I’m home. I look around and I see everyone who looks like me. You know, this is what life is supposed to be like, being with your people.” Lele’s parents Agustinus and Antomina Rumwaropen fled West Papua as political refugees in the 80s – with their five children, including second-born Lele, born and raised overseas. The family was the first refugee family from West Papua relocated to Australia in 1988. But despite her exile from Papua, Lele says her connection to the island is undeniable. “I wasn’t born there, but there’s a big part of me that never feels like Australia is my home. I love it here because my family and my children are here but I always long for home. Every chance I get to go back, if I can, I will.” Lele is married to Aboriginal Australian world music star Mitch Tambo, with the couple hitting the airwaves on January 24 with their new duet cover of the beloved Aussie hit ‘My Island Home’ – 30 years after it was made famous by Torres Strait Islander singer “I’m just blessed to be on the land of Papua, so whether it’s the west side or the east side, every time I come to PNG, it’s home”
VOLUME 42 2025
23
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog