Island girl, Liz Mitchell, brings Boney M to Tonga [1]
Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 10:08. Updated on Wednesday, October 1, 2014 - 11:48.
Photos by Lano Fonua
It was a night of fun for about 2,500 people of all ages who gathered at Nuku'alofa's Teufaiva Stadium, on Friday evening, January 14, for a special Boney M concert in Tonga.
When Liz Mitchell the lead singer of the Boney M musical group announced that, "she was Jamaican, and an island girl just like you", the concert became something like a big family reunion.
Liz Mitchell, who is famous for her no 1 hit songs "By the Rivers of Babylon" and "Mary's Boy Child", is a born again Christian, and sang numbers from her gospel album, including the old Jamaican traditionals.
But she also performed dancing numbers "Daddy Cool", and the group's "Brown Girl in the Ring" was definitely a big hit when the audience responded with the remaining chorus echoing through the out-door stadium.
When the four-member singing group, asked for three or four children to come on stage, in minutes the stage was nearly full of children dancing hip-hop.
The highlight of the evening was when Princess Pilolevu Tuita was invited to come on stage and sing a number with the group, the Princess accepted the invitation, and the stage was nearly full again with her entourage.
Following a number of encores and a flow of local singers, including Joey Mataele, joining the group on stage, the show was finally brought to an end two hours later.
Before the Boney M took the stage, raffle prizes were drawn, by the Princess and prizes included an Escape four wheel drive van, and a number of $1000 and $500 cash prizes, and Tonfon mobile phones.
The concert was organised by the Tonga National Music Association and proceeds from ticket sales went to the 'Alonga Centre for the Handicapped.
While in Nuku'alofa the group stayed at The Black Pearl Suites.