About the Melanfunk Collective

 Melanfunk Collective's music is a unique blend of ethno fusion Melanesian funk/jazz. Inspired by traditions and legends of Melanesia which covers PNG, Torres Straits and the Pacific. Led by long time Yothu Yindi drummer Ben Hakalitz, delivers a unique entertaining performance mixing traditional Melanesian rhythms with contemporary sound, creating an intense tone of tribal harps, flutes, horns, kundu’s, warups and garamut drums seamlessly melded with contemporary jazz and funk arrangements. MFC sets an incredible high standard in Melanesian contemporary music with their own brand of Melanesian funk.

Melanfunk Collective is the brainchild of Bougainville Born Ben Hakalitz, long-time drummer with the Aboriginal Rockers Yothu Yindi, and three of his compatriots who have skillfully blended tribal percussion and traditional rhythms with western pop, rock and jazz fusion. The resulting synthesis between traditional harps, flutes, drums and brass, keyboards and guitar is perhaps best described as Melanesian Funk. While radiating shades of the seventies Santana, yes Osibisa et el- the sound is firmly planted in the 21st century.