LAWEGEREPA - We Remain

This is probably one of the hardest lyrics I’ve ever had to write and compose. Trying to compress two major wars of Pale, my home village, and some important characteristics of the Lawegerepa tribe and Territory in just a few verses and choruses was not easy. There’s so much history, shared by my father and so many details, and even now I feel like I’ve only told part of the story. But the heart of it is there. ...And that was the goal. To spark curiosity. To make the people especially the young generation ask questions. Because when questions are asked, stories are told… and when stories are told, our history stays alive. This song honours the strength and leadership of our grandfathers, especially Chief Kini Yoko, one of the great leaders of Lawegerepa, Siwi, and the wider Ialibu region. The two major wars captured in this song are: • The Mushroom War • The Parrot War And final defeat The Burning of the Spirit House which was the continuation of the Parrot War. After defending many invasion and wars and the ultimate the destruction of Pale came during the "Parrot War" our people were left with no choice but to follow their sister to the Nemola's in Ponokali, seeking refuge and survival. This is the epic start of the relationship of Nemola-Lawagerepa coalition of which still stands today. This is more than a song. It’s memory. It’s identity. It’s legacy. It's History, its Our Story. Lawegerepa – We Remain 🎵 “LAWEGEREPA — WE STILL REMAIN” 🇵🇬🔥 Ooooo… Aiiyee… Lawegerepa… Nem bilong mipela bai sanap From Pale to Ponowi…Kini Malea to Giluwe We still remain VERSE 1 Not every war begins with reason Some begin in pride and hunger Wanpela Lawegerepa kukim perot na haitim insait long paia He came back — kaikai ilus Em No askim — sutim bunara igo stret Na man Sipili pundaun pait ikirap Loianda, Mambi, Rake, Ekerepa Pundura, Muli na Mumurepa Oli yunait long pait wantaim ol Kolopa na Lawegerepa difendim Paleh 🔁 (CHORUS) Oh Pale… ples ibin pundaun Olgeta Kini — Yoko, Yaki, Paina, Akgula, Bote, Kumbura Wantaim Mala, Wata na Awa Ol strongpela las difens They stood strong… In the time of war Kini Yoko held the people When the ground was torn Pale may fall — names don’t fade Pale pai pa kuli, Lawa Yo awalia Ipi Lawa Si Lawegerepa… we remain VERSE 2 Long taim ol meri igo kisim masrum Wanpela rong ikirapim pait gen Oli singaut na birua ikam Rot ipas — nogat hap long go Presa ikam long olgeta sait Stil mipela sanap wantaim BRIDGE Yaki wantaim ol brata Yoko igo het pas long olain Worias bung long las difens Ol Save wanem bai kam Pait long Kini Malea Wara pairap olsem garamut Planti ilus, sampela ronowe CHORUS Ol papa sanap strong Through the darkest night They carried the people Through the final fight Pale ipundaun long paia Spirit bilong mipela ino bruk Pale may fall — names don’t fade Pale pai pa kuli, Lawa Yo awalia Ipi Lawa Si Lawegerepa… we remain VERSE 3 Taim spirit haus ipaia Olgeta saveh — em pinis Nogat rot long kam bek Graun olgeta ilus Peles bilong tupela teil pisin nau ilus BRIDGE Yoko ilukluk bek Na toktok strong lo profesi “When the sun burns without mercy I will come again From east na west I will break the stone And I will bring us home” VERSE 4 Oli brukim wara Yolo Go long narapela graun Not like Warriors But people that lost everything Yanda ta ipisimi...yanda ta ipisimi Tok igo pas — Pale ipundaun Nemola's met them with uncertainty - Friend or enemy? Ol man go pas isi, with lowered bows Ol meri bihain wantaim karai BRIDGE Tension ikamap Yoko iapim han “Mipela kam olsem lain Nogat ples long go” Popeasii isanap Na karai long Paleh Na ol bikman bihainim Na larim mipela stap FINAL CHORUS They stood strong… Not just in war They led the people To something more From loss to peace From Pale to Ponowi From Siwi to Utame Kini Malea into Siwi Range , Ipi kanemolo to the 2 peaks of Giluwe That is our story Pale may fall — names don’t fade Pale pai pa kuli, Lawa Yo awalia Ipi Lawa Si Lawegerepa… we remain Ooooo… Aiiyee… From bow and arrow… To voice and law… From Pale to Ponowi… Mipela kamap wan Lawegerapa awalia Lawegerepa … we remain