"World-Class Musician Returns to Easter Island to Save Its Culture: A Heartwarming Story of Art and Advocacy"

A renowned musician is using his talent to preserve the traditional music and culture of Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, which has been threatened by tourism and other outside influences.

Matato'a, a Rapa Nui music group, was formed in 1997 by Mahani Teave, who is now a renowned opera singer. Their music is a fusion of traditional and modern sounds and features instruments such as the pahu, a large drum made from a hollowed-out tree trunk, and the kauaha, a percussion instrument made from a turtle shell.

Teave, who left the island to pursue her music career, has returned to Easter Island to help preserve its culture through the power of music. She founded the Rapa Nui School of Music in 2018, where local children learn to play traditional instruments and perform Matato'a's music.

Easter Island, a remote territory of Chile, is known for its giant stone statues called moai, which attract thousands of tourists each year. While tourism brings economic benefits to the island, it has also had a negative impact on the culture and environment of Rapa Nui.

Teave and her team hope that by preserving Rapa Nui's traditional music and culture, they can also promote sustainable tourism and protect the island's unique identity.