Nabala Secondary School, the sole institution in the Northern Division with a drum band, has finally upgraded its musical instruments after 16 years. The improvement comes thanks to an $8,000 donation from the Vodafone Festival of the Friendly North committee, which includes four single drums, one brass drum, and a set of four tenor drums.
Principal Epi Raikivi expressed his enthusiasm and appreciation on behalf of the 14-member band, made up of hostel students from Years Nine to 13 representing 11 villages. He noted that the school’s drum set was originally donated by the Fiji Police Force in 2008, and since then, they have been making repairs to continue using it.
Mr. Raikivi also recognized Master Seru Tuidravutu, who has been with the band since 2012, for seeking assistance from the festival committee. He mentioned that the band has participated in the festival’s entertainment programming for the past five years. Despite the resignation of their teacher earlier this year, Tuidravutu’s leadership played a crucial role in securing the new instruments.
Located around 33 kilometers from Labasa Town, the band regularly supports various schools, organizations, and community events with their performances, dressed in light blue and navy blue uniforms.
Zaheen Ibrahim, president of the Vodafone Festival of the Friendly North Committee, emphasized the festival’s commitment to both community engagement and music education. She remarked that the recent donation reflects their dedication to community development and skill enhancement. This follows a previous donation of $5,000 worth of equipment last year, along with an additional $3,000 in their latest provision as part of their ongoing support.