𝗝𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀

Australian First Nations musician and artist Jeremy Donovan, a Kuku-Yalanji man, recently concluded a nine-day visit to the Solomon Islands, where he connected with communities across multiple provinces.

Donovan visited nine schools, five marketplaces, a church, and a hospital across Central, Makira-Ulawa, and Guadalcanal Provinces. 

Donovan is an internationally renowned artist who has performed globally, including at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, Buckingham Palace for Queen Elizabeth II, and the White House for President Bill Clinton. 

He previously visited Solomon Islands in 2024, performing in Western, Malaita, and Guadalcanal Provinces.

As a representative of Australia’s First Nations people, the kastom landowners with 65,000 years of continuous culture and deep connections to the Pacific, Donovan shared his didgeridoo music and stories. 

He delighted audiences by imitating Australian animals like kangaroos, dingoes, kookaburras, saltwater crocodiles, and the Solomon Islands’ national bird, the kurukuru.

Donovan also shared his personal journey and the transformative power of education.  His message to young Solomon Islanders: “Dreams are free. If you don’t have a dream, you don’t have a destination in life. All young people must have a dream which gives them purpose.”

In Central Province, Donovan performed at MacMahon Community High School (joined by Premier Michael Salini), Marvin Community High School, Taroniara Community High School, Henry Koga Primary School, and Gelailau Community High School, and Tulagi Market. 

His Tulagi Market performance held special significance as the Solomon Islands—Australia Partnership refurbished the facility in 2024, an SBD1.52 million project that provided a new roof, water tanks, paving, and accessibility improvements.

In Makira-Ulawa Province, Donovan visited FM Campbell School (joined by Premier Stanley Siapu), Waimapuru National Secondary School, Manama Primary School, Kokana Community, and the Kirakira market and hospital. 

The Honourable Stanley Siapu, Premier of Makira-Ulawa Province, joined Mr. Donovan at FM Campbell School and afterward said, “Thank you, Australia, for bringing this important program to our province. It helped our children understand the value and importance of maintaining kastom tradition in the modern day.”

Donovan also visited St. Barnabas Anglican Cathedral in Honiara, attending mass and performing for worshippers.

He also performed at White River, Honiara Central, and Kukum Markets, all of which were built or refurbished through the Solomon Islands—Australia Partnership.

Of his visit, Mr Jeremy Donovan said “this has been an incredible opportunity for cultural exchange. I’ve now visited five of Solomon Islands’ nine beautiful provinces, and we’ve brought our kastom cultures closer together.”

Australian High Commissioner His Excellency Rod Hilton said, “Australia and Solomon Islands share deep cultural connections, as Jeremy has reminded us with his visit, celebrating kastom culture with pikinini and continuing the cultural exchange between our nations.”

Australia and Solomon Islands share an ocean and a future, with the spirit, energy, ancestries, and cultures of their people as their greatest asset.

Media Release | AHC