Dunedin’s Japanese-inspired taiko drum ensemble O-Taiko is hosting "Taiko-4-Tonga" this week to raise money for communities affected by the eruption of the underground volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai in January.
The violent eruption 65km north of the capital Nuku’alofa disrupted lives and displaced people and O-Taiko co-leader Lydie Leurquin said she wanted to help.
"Myself, being Pasifika, I wanted to reach out and do something for the Tongan community and I thought this was a nice way to bring different people together."
From Friday at 6pm about a dozen O-Taiko members would start the drum marathon at Burns Hall in Moray Pl, Miss Leurquin said.
The drumming would continue until 6pm the following day as groups of four or five drummers performed in one-hour sets of the physically demanding style, she said.
The performances would take a toll on drummers’ shoulders, wrists and thighs — "everywhere probably" — she said.
"Twenty-four hours is a lot."
To shoulder the burden other groups would join the event, including Europa Kid and Paradiso; the Waitaki District Schools Pipe Band; Rasa School of Dance; Dunedin Rock Choir; percussion groups Fatima’s Dream and Drum Collective; and the Otago Tongan Student Association, she said.
An online page had been set up for donations to provide support "in whatever way we can", including providing non-perishable goods, clean water, building equipment, agricultural equipment and other necessities to rebuild communities.
The event would be closed to the public overnight (from 10pm tomorrow until 7am on Saturday) but the drumming would continue, Miss Leurquin said.
