1358: "George ‘Fiji’ Veikoso"

HistoryPodcastNews
Written By JC

Interesting Things with JC #1358: "George ‘Fiji’ Veikoso" – He built a sound that crossed oceans and refused to erase where it came from. A voice for islanders, a legacy for everyone.

Curriculum - Episode Anchor

Episode Title:
George ‘Fiji’ Veikoso

Episode Number:
#1358

Host:
JC

Audience:
Grades 9–12, college intro, homeschool, lifelong learners

Subject Area:
Music History, Cultural Studies, Media Literacy, Pacific Island Studies

Lesson Overview

Students will:

  • Define the musical and cultural contributions of George ‘Fiji’ Veikoso to Pacific Island music.

  • Compare the role of music as identity in diasporic communities across time and space.

  • Analyze how geopolitical events like the 1987 Fijian coup influenced personal and artistic trajectories.

  • Explain the impact of independent labels in preserving underrepresented cultural voices in global music.

Key Vocabulary

  • Diaspora (DYE-uh-spor-uh) — The movement, migration, or scattering of people away from an established or ancestral homeland. Fiji’s migration to Hawai‘i reflects a broader Pacific Islander diaspora.

  • Nā Hōkū Hanohano (nah HO-koo hah-no-HA-no) — Prestigious Hawaiian music awards, often equated to the “Hawaiian Grammys.”

  • Island Reggae (EYE-luhnd REH-gay) — A hybrid genre blending reggae rhythms with Pacific languages and themes.

  • Lineage (LIN-ee-ij) — Family heritage or ancestry. Fiji’s solo albums trace his personal and cultural lineage through music.

  • Minor-Key Chords (MY-ner kee kordz) — Musical tones that often evoke emotional depth; foundational to Fiji’s sound.

Narrative Core

  • Open:
    George Veikoso's journey begins in Tailevu, Fiji, where hymns and storytelling shaped his early years.

  • Info:
    Forced to relocate after the 1987 coup, his family resettled in Hawai‘i. Music became a bridge between memory and survival.

  • Details:
    From charting with The Mana‘o Company to refusing major label contracts that asked him to erase his identity, Fiji’s career was defined by artistic integrity and cultural pride.

  • Reflection:
    Through language, melody, and resistance, Fiji became a voice for Pacific identity in exile—culminating in a 2024 return to Fiji that drew 10,000 fans.

  • Closing:
    These are interesting things, with JC.

George "Fiji" Veikoso holding a framed plaque celebrating 500 million digital streams, with album covers displayed, standing on a beachside patio.

Transcript

Interesting Things with JC #1358: "George ‘Fiji’ Veikoso"

George Brooks Veikoso was born on May 10, 1970, in Tailevu (tie-LEH-voo), Fiji, a rural district covering 264 square miles (684 square kilometers). His childhood was steeped in hymnals, oral storytelling, and island harmony.

After the 1987 coup in Fiji, his family relocated to Hawai‘i (hah-WAI-ee). At 17, George began again—learning that being Fijian in Honolulu meant translating memory into melody.

In 1991, he fronted The Mana‘o Company (mah-NAH-oh). Their debut album won a Nā Hōkū Hanohano (nah HO-koo hah-no-HA-no) award. But George walked away. Solo, he dropped Evolution in 1994 and Born & Raised in 1996—records that carried not just lyrics, but lineage.

“Lia (LEE-ah),” a ballad in honor of a Fijian woman who had died in a domestic violence incident in Kalihi (kah-LEE-hee), was recorded in one take. Radio hosts played it uncut. “Sweet Darlin’” became a crossover hit on both reggae and R&B stations.

Fiji’s influence expanded beyond genre. From 1999 to 2001, he co-wrote the Baywatch: Hawaii theme song. He later appeared in Blue Crush (2002). By the late ’90s, he had founded Joi Records (joy), a small label that quietly launched careers for acts like J Boog, The Green, Tenelle (ten-NELL), and Siaosi (see-ah-OH-see).

His catalog spanned four languages—English, Fijian (fee-JEE-an), Samoan (sah-MOH-un), and Hawaiian (hah-WAI-an). His genre-defining style—“Island Reggae”—used minor-key chords, syncopated drums, and bilingual lyrics to fuse Pacific culture with soul and roots.

He declined three major label offers between 2000 and 2010. All asked for one change: remove the Fijian.

He refused every time.

In 2024, he returned home for a full concert in Nadi (NAH-dee). Over 10,000 people came. It was his first full show in Fiji since migrating in 1987. A second Homecoming concert was planned for 2025, but he passed before it happened.

One fan—age 27—said her grandmother cried through the entire second set. “He made us feel like we never left.”

On July 24, 2025, George died quietly in Suva (SOO-vah). He was 55. No farewell tour. No final album press. Just a message from his sister confirming he had “gone to the ancestors quietly.”

But his catalog didn’t die.

More than 500 million streams by 2023.
Over 30 years of island music standards.
Twelve solo records. Forty guest features.
And one message:

You don’t need permission to be who you already are.

These are interesting things, with JC.

Student Worksheet

  1. Why did George Veikoso’s family relocate from Fiji to Hawai‘i in 1987?

  2. What cultural elements shaped George’s early music career?

  3. How did Fiji’s decision to decline major label offers reflect his values?

  4. Describe the significance of the 2024 concert in Nadi.

  5. What is meant by the phrase “You don’t need permission to be who you already are”?

Teacher Guide

Estimated Time:
45–60 minutes

Pre-Teaching Vocabulary Strategy:
Use image-based vocabulary flashcards with phonetic pronunciation and sentence examples.

Anticipated Misconceptions:

  • Students may conflate reggae with Jamaican-only styles; clarify “Island Reggae.”

  • Confusion between Hawai‘i and Fiji as cultural/geographic spaces.

Discussion Prompts:

  • Why is music a powerful tool for preserving cultural identity?

  • How does diaspora influence creativity?

  • Should artists change their heritage to gain commercial success?

Differentiation Strategies:

  • ESL: Provide bilingual vocabulary sheets with native language translations.

  • IEP: Use scaffolded listening guides and sentence starters.

  • Gifted: Research project on Pacific music genres and their evolution.

Extension Activities:

  • Write a reflective journal entry from the perspective of a fan attending the 2024 Homecoming concert.

  • Analyze lyrics from “Sweet Darlin’” or “Lia” for themes of loss, love, or resistance.

Cross-Curricular Connections:

  • Sociology: Cultural identity in diasporic communities

  • Geography: Mapping migration patterns in the Pacific

  • Ethics: Artistic integrity vs. commercial pressure

Quiz

  1. What major life event caused Fiji to leave his home country?
    A. A hurricane
    B. A coup in Fiji
    C. Music scholarship
    D. School expulsion
    Answer: B

  2. What was Fiji’s first major band?
    A. J Boog
    B. Joi Records
    C. The Mana‘o Company
    D. Island Vibe
    Answer: C

  3. Which song was dedicated to a victim of domestic violence?
    A. “Island Love”
    B. “Sweet Darlin’”
    C. “Lia”
    D. “Baywatch Theme”
    Answer: C

  4. What demand did record labels make that Fiji rejected?
    A. Singing in English only
    B. Changing his name
    C. Removing Fijian identity
    D. Moving to Los Angeles
    Answer: C

  5. How many languages did Fiji’s catalog span?
    A. Two
    B. Three
    C. Four
    D. Five
    Answer: C

Assessment

  1. Explain how George Veikoso used his music to preserve cultural identity across the Pacific diaspora.

  2. Discuss the meaning and cultural impact of his refusal to remove the Fijian elements from his work.

3–2–1 Rubric:

  • 3: Accurate, complete, thoughtful

  • 2: Partial or missing detail

  • 1: Inaccurate or vague

Standards Alignment

Common Core (ELA-Literacy):

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.2 – Determine the central ideas of a primary source (the podcast episode).

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.1 – Engage in collaborative discussions, building on diverse perspectives.

C3 Framework for Social Studies:

  • D2.Civ.7.9-12 – Apply civic virtues and democratic principles to identity and self-expression.

  • D2.Geo.7.9-12 – Analyze the cultural and environmental characteristics that shape places and regions.

ISTE Standards:

  • ISTE 1.3.D – Knowledge Constructor – Students evaluate the accuracy, perspective, credibility, and relevance of information.

UK National Curriculum (Music):

  • KS4 Music – Understand musical contexts, traditions, and genres from diverse cultures.

Cambridge IGCSE Music:

  • 1.1.3 – Recognize and describe the historical, cultural, and social context of music from different traditions.

Show Notes

This episode of Interesting Things with JC explores the extraordinary life and music of George "Fiji" Veikoso, a pioneer of Island Reggae and a cultural bridge between Fiji and Hawai‘i. His story weaves geopolitics, resistance, musical evolution, and diasporic pride. Through his refusal to compromise his identity for mainstream success, Fiji became a defining voice of Pacific cultural preservation. For students, his journey is a powerful lens through which to examine questions of migration, identity, and artistic integrity—making this episode ideal for social studies, music, and media literacy units.

References

JC https://jimconnors.org
Previous

1359: "The Runit Dome"
Next

1357: "Hulk Hogan"