Pasifika Made
A bold expression of Pacific cultural and contemporary arts.
Pasifika Made is a bold expression of Pacific cultural and contemporary arts. Bringing together artists and communities from across the diaspora and the Moana in a vibrant program of arts, culture, and ceremony.
Returning in 2025 as part of Brisbane Festival, Pasifika Made transforms the Brisbane Powerhouse into a living arts and cultural village with headline performances, cultural ceremony, live demonstrations, workshops, and a thriving village marketplace. Pacific artists and communities from across the region and beyond gather to share ancestral knowledge, contemporary practice, and unapologetic cultural expression.
From ancient practices to cutting-edge performance, Pasifika Made honours the past, celebrates the present, and forges future pathways through Pacific cultural and contemporary arts. Through music, dance, storytelling, food, and hands-on creative experiences, audiences are invited to connect deeply.
This is where artists and communities meet and lead with pride and unapologetic presence.
Dates & Times
7 Sep
Duration: Starts at 3pm, and runs until 8.30pm
Venue
Prices & Ticket Info
Free
Accessibility
- Wheelchair Access
Important Info
Warning for Haze Machine
Credits
Queenie Pelesa - Cultural Producer
Image by Lewis James Bin Doraho (Lewis James Media)
(left) Monika Rosalita Raison, Tribe – Ugauga Clan, Veifa’a, Mekeo in the Central Province of Papua New Guinea.
(centre) Meona Bulei, Tribe – Buyang Village from Manus Island, Manus Province in northern Papua New Guinea,
(right) Bolo Solien, Tribe: Tatana Village, Motu Koitabu in the National Capital District of Papua New Guinea
Supported By
This project is supported through the Giving Program by Haymans Electrical.
Program Overview
Main Stage – The Turbine Platform
Main Stage lineup showcases an incredible array of contemporary Pacific and Indigenous music headlined by Papua New Guinean artist Kaiit and featuring dynamic acts including PANIA, Fred Leone and Radio for Ghosts, and Eve Nikolao.
Amphitheatre - Island Stage
Begin the celebration with a welcome to country and smoking ceremony featuring the Manus Dancing Group, Ume Lalo Nama Dancing Group, Logohu Bird of Paradise Dancing Group, Kingaroy Solomon Islands Pan Pipers, and representation from Tahitian, Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, Māori, Fijian, Cook Island.
Outdoor stores rehearsal – Boxy BF Stage
Keeping the culture moving with a series of workshops that offer an introduction to Polynesian performing arts, including Siva Afi (fire knife dancing), Hawaiian Traditional Hula, and Polynesian drumming.
Participants will learn foundational movements, rhythms, and cultural context in a supportive environment. Open to all skill levels, the sessions celebrate cultural expression, storytelling, and community connection.
Pleasure Dome - Workshops
Take a break from the music and make your way to the Pleasure Dome to participate in live demonstrations and workshops showcasing Melanesian culture, including traditional storytelling (Revarevas), weaving (Mahoa and Mekeo Vea), basketry, Lakatoi canoe carving, Vea magic string bags, and Garamut drumming. Led by cultural elders, aunties and artists, it provides an open hands-on learning and cultural insight for all visitors.
Forecourt + Roundabout Lane
Explore the Pacific Village Marketplace featuring up to 20 Pacific Island businesses, artisans, and artists of food, crafts, and goods. Celebrating Oceania’s rich cultural heritage and contemporary goods, it offers visitors a vibrant space to experience authentic products, connect with creators, and support Pacific Island traditions and artistry.
Turbine x Graffiti Walls – Exhibition
Exhibitions by artist Tyla Vaeau Tatau, as well as Papua New Guinea images by James Lewis Media featuring stories of Manus, Mekeo and Boio.
Artists
Kaiit
Kaiit is a Melbourne-based neo-soul and R&B artist born in Papua New Guinea. Known for her powerful vocals and genre-blending sound, she draws influence from icons like Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill. Her breakout tracks "Natural Woman" and "OG Luv Kush Pt 2" led to the release of her debut EP Live from Her Room in 2018. In 2019, she won the ARIA Award for Best Soul/R&B Release, cementing her place in Australia's music scene. A proud advocate for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities, Kaiit is celebrated for her authenticity, vibrant style, and boundary-pushing soul sound.
Fred Leone x Radio For Ghosts
Fred Leone is a Butchulla Songman and multidisciplinary artist with Aboriginal, Tongan, and South Sea Islander roots. Known for blending traditional language, instruments, and stories with hip-hop, soul, and spoken word, Fred is a leading voice in cultural preservation and creative resistance. He is a 2022 Sidney Myer Creative Fellow, 2024 NAIDOC Music Award winner, and APRA Screen Music Award recipient. Renowned for his powerful live performances, Fred will perform a dynamic set at Pasifika Made, featuring the genre-blending Plutonics, uniting deep cultural heritage with bold, contemporary sound.
PANIA
PANIA is a rising R&B artist from West Melbourne, known for her sultry sound, introspective lyrics, and bold creative vision. Since her 2021 debut ICCY, she’s supported global acts like Kehlani, Giveon, and Coldplay, and performed a standout Like A Version cover in 2024. Her acclaimed EPs P STANDS 4 PLAYA and We Still Young earned back-to-back ARIA nominations for Best Soul/R&B Release. In 2025, PANIA returns with her third EP Coming 2 Terms, exploring growth and self-reflection. She will perform live with her band at Pasifika Made, bringing her signature sound and stage presence to the celebration.
Eve Nikolao
Eve Nikolao is a proud Samoan musician with extensive experience as both a solo artist and collaborator. She has performed with various bands across Queensland and internationally, honing her distinctive sound. In 2015, Eve won the Samoa Idol competition while living in Samoa. Since then, she has recorded an album and performed widely. Recently, Eve participated in the Holland Festival’s Small Island Big Song, collaborating with First Nations and Pacific artists globally. She has also performed at Brisbane Festival events, including Southbank Festival Gardens, Women of the World Festival, Kingston Butter Factory Arts Precinct Launch, and Aunties Fia Fia Night by Casus Circus.