THE name Voqa Ni Delai Dokidoki is synonymous with the emergence of iTaukei “boy bands”.
From the moment the Koro Island group burst on to the local music scene in the 1980s, it cemented itself as the new standard and set a benchmark for other musical acts to follow.
And at the helm of this musical tour de force was Kitione Vunisasari — pioneer vocalist, composer and songwriter for “Dokidoki” as the group was popularly known.
At 57, the Nasau, Koro, native from the Lomaiviti Group has written more than 150 songs over the years. While he has penned numerous hits, he says the best is yet to come.
Today, he composes songs for his two sons — Saiasi Koroi Vunisasari and Kitione Vunisasari Jr, and together they perform as a trio called — Seni Dawa Ni Delai Dokidoki.
Vunisasari’s journey in the local music industry started back in the ’70s while he was studying at Lelean Memorial School in Nausori.
“I’ve always loved singing,” he said.
“I started singing when I was schooling in Lelean.
“After school, my interest had always been in music and it just continued.”
In 1981, he joined his elder brother Etonia Lote to form Voqa Ni Delai Dokidoki.
The iconic music group took the airwaves by storm with some of the country’s biggest iTaukei hits such Noqu Koronivuli, Kecisemani and Au Biuti Viti to name a few.
After recording two albums with the band, Vunisasari formed his own group — Malumu Ni Tobu Kei Naivaukura.
This was where his composing journey also began.
“I started writing songs there and then and I also loved singing.
“After recording two albums I took a break because back then I was just living in the village. I then tried to come to Suva.”
In 1999, Vunisasari felt inspired to form his third band — Seni Dawa Ni Delai Dokidoki — the musical trio with his sons.
“After one recording, we went back to the village and I continued writing songs.
“Then the Voqa Ni Delai Dokidoki group asked me to write their songs.
“I started composing with them and we did volume three until volume eight.
“After that, a band from Vanua Levu known as the Delai Sea asked me to write songs for them and I recorded two albums with them.”
After this, Vunisasari recorded some more albums with other local bands.
“But now, because my two sons have started singing, I have also started writing songs for them.
“We just sing together as Seni Dawa ni Delai Dokidoki.”
The father and sons band is preparing to release their fourth album.
“We are expecting to release it by March or April.
“There are some very good songs as expected in this upcoming recording and I believe a lot of people will love it.”
The soon-to-be-released album has already kicked off on a positive note.
One of the songs Sega Dina Na Loloma was placed number one on the Viti FM Top 100 iTaukei songs for 2019.
And the song was composed by Vunisasari himself. Vunisasari’s composing skills have not gone unnoticed by his peers.
In 2014, he was awarded the Best Composer award at the Fiji Performing Rights Association’s (FPRA) awards night.
Looking back, he said he was always very particular about how he composed his songs and put them together.
He said he always ensured that he composed songs that would be loved by all audiences.
“When I write the lyrics of a song, I have to feel the story behind that particular song.
“If it’s a story about the separation of a couple, I have to feel like I am the husband in the story.
“By that I mean I will feel how they feel and the lyrics just automatically come to me.
“Or if it’s a song about someone who has died, it has to be about someone very close to me so I can feel the pain and compose the song.”
