Hiva Ma'a Tonga X Himi 114 - Emily Muli ft House of Misfits

Tongan singer/song writer Emily Muli writes:

A song for the motherland 🇹🇴

On January 15th 2022, the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano erupted in Tonga, followed by a tsunami. The nation lost communication with the world, but held onto their faith. Since these events, the world has seen the strength of my homeland; their unwavering hope and stories of resilience.

This song was written to capture what I knew our people were doing despite not hearing anything from them for days. It is what they do in any circumstance - they sing, they pray, the hold on to their joy and they navigate together.

Massive mālō 'aupito to my House of Misfits fāmili for taking up my frantic call and doing this with me! We were honoured to premiere this at the 2022 Commonwealth Youth Awards, and made even more special that we were representing the Pacific region. Also massive fa'afetai to Canaan Ene for shooting our music video amongst the Omicron outbreak here in Aotearoa!

Of course, this song ends in Himi 114 - a famous Tongan hymn, but one that resonated so deeply as it speaks to God's love being deeper than the deepest of oceans.

I am proud to come from the villages of Fua'amotu and Kanokupolu in Tonga. My heart belongs to her, and she is with me. 'Ofa lahi atu, Tonga.

- 

You can still support Tongan relief efforts, such as NZ Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org.nz/donate/pacific-tsunami-appeal/