Reggae music legend George ‘Fiji' Veikoso dies aged 55
Labour Party Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni said she couldn't comprehend Veikoso's death.
'One of the most talented Pasifika/ reggae musicians ever - if not the most talented,' she wrote.
'I was in awe of his music but in his humble gracious way, he was respectful to me for my political accomplishments.'
Veikoso, born in 1970, was regarded as one of the most original and dynamic entertainers in the Pacific Rim.
He left Fiji in 1987 because of the country's coup d'état and settled in Hawaii.
His island roots-inspired grooves earned him a place in popular television and film.
He co-wrote the theme song for Baywatch Hawaii, appeared as an actor in the film Blue Crush and performed on the Live with Emeril Lagasse cooking show.
Rest Easy Fiji ❤️
A staple for all of Polynesia. He connected every single Polynesian together. Your music and message will forever live on. A true Warrior Of Love🤟🏽
Thank you, Mahalo, Fa'afetai🤙🏽🇦🇸🇼🇸🇹🇴🇫🇯 pic.twitter.com/ahHQBilWEV — Braeden Lafaele Meyer (@Coach_BMeyer) July 24, 2025
Last year, he hosted a two-day homecoming concert in Nadi, which brought an estimated $1 million into the local economy.
Katchafire's Logan Bell described Veikoso as an 'amazing human to sit down and have a chat to'.
'I just love the way he talks about indigenous peoples throughout the Pacific – you can call them Polynesian or Pasifika – and what life was once like in pre-European, pre-colonial days,' he said.
'I love the way he talks about whakapapa. There was communication, there was trade, there was a cohesive way of life back then. Māori history really interests me, indigenous history really interests me, and sacred knowledge and the [earlier] ways of life.'
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Tributes are pouring in from across the Pacific following the death of one of the region's most influential musicians. George 'Fiji' Veikoso a pioneer of island reggae passed away in Suva this week at the age of 55. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
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Pome'e is the lead singer for South Auckland reggae band Three Houses Down. He shared memories with the Herald about growing up with his brothers listening to international reggae icons Bob Marley and UB40 - before a new voice entered their home when Fiji released his Born & Raised album in 1996. 'In my mind, I just thought that no one does reggae unless you're from Jamaica. But when I saw that album cover... I was thinking: 'No way. This guy's from Fiji'. 'Listening to the songs - instantly, it was like: 'Holy heck. Our Polynesian people can do this'. He gave us hope from a young age - this is doable.' Pome'e talked of the uniquely Pacific sound Fiji brought to the world of reggae in the 1990s. 'It was something fresh. Being a Polynesian, he knew of the sound as Polynesians - the Pacific sound,' he said. A special power with the crowd 'As soon as that drum roll starts, you gravitate towards it because that's our sound. I just couldn't believe there was a Pacific Islander doing reggae.' Fijian music legend George 'Fiji' Veikoso had died at the age of 55. Photo / @FijiTheArtist As the frontman of his own band, Pome'e said he studied Fiji's stage presence and how he interacted with the crowd. One memorable moment was at the One Love Festival in Tauranga, in 2017, when Fiji took to the stage and spontaneously called on the crowd to join him in singing Māori waiata: E Papa Waiari. Video footage showed the masses singing: 'E papa waiari, taku nei mahi, taku nei mahi, he tuku roimata. 'E aue, e aue. Ka mate au. E hine, hoki mai ra.' The spontaneous show of harmony brought people in the crowd to tears. Fiji's spontaneous sing-along with the crowd at the One Love Festival in 2017 was a highlight that year. Photo / George Novak Pome'e said it was that special quality that Fiji had - and which many others could not duplicate. The voice of the Pacific 'One thing I learned from him... he was unpredictable. He had this special power where he read the crowd. 'It's not just about playing the songs. It's reading the crowd, being with the crowd, playing what the crowd wants and interacting. 'You can stop the band whenever you want or point someone out who's not dancing.' As well as writing and composing his own songs, Fiji also covered songs in Pacific languages - turning them into his own. Among those is his hugely popular rendition of the Samoan ballad Sosefina, written by Fafo Aulalo, of one of Samoa's most loved old school bands: Tiama'a. 'He was the voice of the Pacific - literally. He would take time to learn Tongan and Samoan songs,' Pome'e said. Speaking on the way Fiji operated in the recording studio, Pome'e said it was Fiji that showed him the need to truly connect with the words behind a song. 'Even to a point where do you ever wonder what the composer was going through at this time? 'He would really take you into that space. He wanted you to sing it and imagine what the composer was going through - how crushed his heart was when this happened. 'So when he educated you in the studio and you come back and listen to all his music, it hits different.' Pome'e, who is also a presenter for radio station Flava, shared a heartfelt on-air tribute to the legend he got to create and perform music with, and know as a mentor and family friend. 'Fij, thank you for the songs that got me through the hard days and made the good ones even better,' he said, his voice breaking. 'I'm so grateful for the way your music made me feel. You gave me more than music. You gave us hope, truth and something real to hold on to. 'Thank you for leading the way and lighting the way for all Poly artists like me. Your gift to the world became a gift to my life - and I'll never forget that.' Vaimoana Mase is the Pasifika editor for the Herald's Talanoa section, sharing stories from the Pacific community. She won junior reporter of the year at the then Qantas Media Awards in 2010 and won the best opinion writing award at the 2023 Voyager Media Awards.
