Mia Kami

What role do you think art can play in social change?

Art amplifies the human experience in social change, activism and social justice movements. It gives voice to people who are not often given a seat at the table. It has the power to remind decision makers of the humanity that is in their hands. 

How would you describe your artistic practice as it relates to supporting social movements?

For as long as I can remember, music and song have been a part of my life. As I got older, I realized that I am incredibly non-confrontational, but with songwriting, I was able to confront issues that I felt were important to the Pacific region. Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to be in the climate space as an artist for over a decade now and songwriting has played a pivotal role in keeping me in these spaces. I often say that I am not a scientist but instead I am a storyteller because I try to talk story through song. Since I started working at Tupou College, I’ve made efforts to incorporate art into my teachings as often as I can. This particular experience of writing songs for the school has been really interesting for me because it has allowed me to take on a different form of storytelling that is much closer to home, literally. The songs I’ve written for the school reflect the spirit of this school in a way that only music can.