When it comes to the history of drumming in the Cook Islands, Professor and composer Dr Jon Tikivanotau Jonassen is one of the artform’s most distinguished knowledge holders. 

Like many young men in the Cook Islands, Jonassen, born in 1949, grew up around the music, drums, dance and culture, but it was a curious and inquisitive mind that set him on a decades long journey to learn as much as he possibly could. 

As the 2021 Moanaroa Artist in residence, Jonassen a Taunga Tumu Korero Tutara will workshop and share his wealth of knowledge over 6 weeks with artists and cultural communities in Auckland and Wellington. The programme, run by the Pacifica Arts Centre in West Auckland is the first for the organisation. 

Professor Jon Jonassen is excited to be sharing his work with communities in New Zealand and will provide weekly workshops and talks during his time here. 

He spent much of his career as a professor in Hawaii before returning to his homeland to write all his amassed knowledge into a series of books.