Inka Mbing is the stunning guest vocalist on Tōku Reo. From the Atayal tribe, one of 16 indigenous tribe in Taiwan, Inka defied the taboo on women not singing traditional songs. Now she is celebrated for helping keep the language alive. Moana Maniapoto and producer Paddy Free visited Inka and started a conversation with her about the loss of language and its revitalisation in Aotearoa/New Zealand. As with Māori, Inka's people were punished for speaking their native language in school. They recorded the song Tōku Reo (with lyrics by Scotty Morrision) in Atayal and Maori, both of which belong to the Austronesian language family. Tōku Reo pays tribute to the language and will be released worldwide in September 2020.
Toku reo, toku ohooho
My Language, my awakening
Tohu reo, toku oho kaikakau
My Language, my strength

Mai e te tipua, mai e te tawhito, mai e te kahui o nga ariki,
In the beginning, before there was Light, under the cloak of the gods


Mai e tawhiri atu ki ngā atua i te ora kua hanga mai o te ao i te putaketanga nei o tatou reo
From that ancient time when the ancestors and gods created a means to speak to each other,
Out of the darkness and their chatter in the Void, came…

Reo Waiti, Reo Waita
This Language of Sweetness,this Language of Eloquence

Reo i wehi mai e nga matua ko Ranginui e tu nei
This Language used by sacred forces to plot and plan the separation of Rangi Sky Father