Matila Balekana
Encyclopedia
Matila Baleilekutu Balekana (born 1932) is a Fiji
an-born Solomon Islander
, who co-wrote the national anthem
of the Solomon Islands
with her husband, Panapasa Balekana
.
Matila Balekana is originally from Fiji
, but has spent the majority of her adult life in the Solomon Islands
. She and her husband had two children together, a son and a daughter.
The couple co-wrote the national anthem of the Solomon Islands
, God Save Our Solomon Islands
, as part of a government competition. Matila and Panapasa co-wrote the lyrics
to the anthem, while Balekana Balekana composed
the music exclusively.
Matila Balekana's husband, Panapasa Balekana, died on January 22, 2009, at their home in Henderson, east of Honiara
.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an-born Solomon Islander
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
, who co-wrote the national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
of the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
with her husband, Panapasa Balekana
Panapasa Balekana
Panapasa Balekana, MBE, SIM, was a Fijian-born Solomon Islander who composed the national anthem of the Solomon Islands, God Save Our Solomon Islands, with his wife, Matila Balekana...
.
Matila Balekana is originally from Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, but has spent the majority of her adult life in the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
. She and her husband had two children together, a son and a daughter.
The couple co-wrote the national anthem of the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
, God Save Our Solomon Islands
God Save Our Solomon Islands
God Save Our Solomon Islands is the national anthem of the Solomon Islands. It was adopted in 1978 following the independence of the country. The text was written by Panapasa Balekana and Matila Balekana, the music was written by Panapasa Balekana....
, as part of a government competition. Matila and Panapasa co-wrote the lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
to the anthem, while Balekana Balekana composed
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
the music exclusively.
Matila Balekana's husband, Panapasa Balekana, died on January 22, 2009, at their home in Henderson, east of Honiara
Honiara
Honiara, population 49,107 , 78,190 , is the capital of the Solomon Islands and of Guadalcanal Province, although it is a separately administered town...
.