Ardijah

Kia Orana Tatou katoatoa (Welcome, good life to us all.)

admin — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:18:52 +0000

Welcome to the official Ardijah website.

Ardijah (The Music Group) was formed in Aotearoa New Zealand back in 1979. The name Ardijah was made up from two people’s names. The 1st name being ‘Ardi’, the partner of the band’s 1st lead male vocalist James. The 2nd name James, was shortened to ‘Jaa’ which was later changed to ‘Jah’. Both names put together made ‘Ardi-Jah’ “Ardijah”. After years of carrying the name, the band was given the meaning of the name by a total stranger while at L.A.X. when visited Los Angeles U.S.A. back in 2006. Written in the ’sanskrit’ language (one of the oldest written languages) the meaning of ‘Ardijah’ is ‘Enlightenment’ & ‘Female singer”. “Go figure”?!!!!

‘Word to da Mutha’ (2004) 01-word-to-da-mutha

Ardijah play Tahiti @ the ‘Super Aito’ race.

Polyfonk — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 23:55:29 +0000

Ardijah play for the 1st time in Tahiti @ the ‘Super Aito’ (Oe Va’a Outrigger Canoe) August 14th 2010. A nice warm break from the New Zealand winter. It was more like a working holiday but without the work. The Island was beautiful, the people and the food was ‘meita’i roa’. The gig at To’ata, (the main waterfront area in Pape’ete) set to a backdrop of a beautiful Tahitian sunset, went off with the new audience being exposed the Ardiajh PolyFonk sound. The response to the band’s music was awesome, a bit of the new mixed in with the traditional. Happy people everywhere. “Maruru roa”.

Ardijah jam da PolyFonk in Australia.

Polyfonk — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 04:09:35 +0000

Ardijah jammed in GoldCoast & Melbourne 31st July & 1 Aug. It was short but sweet! Just another catch up with the Ardijah fan family. The Band has been around since the late 70’s and still we have old friends that still haven’t seen Ardijah live! “Keep it coming love”.

2010 Pacific Music Awards Ardijah receive ‘Lifetime achievement’ Award.

Polyfonk — Mon, 31 May 2010 21:19:52 +0000

On Saturday 29th May 2010, Ardijah received the ‘Manukau Institute of Technology Life Time Achievement Award’ acknowledging the bands contribution to New Zealand Music, from a career spanning 30 years. A collage video clip of songs released by the band played on the big screen during the award, followed by an acoustic interpretation of the classic hit song ‘Watchin’ U’ beautifully performed by the South Auckland Duo, Adeaze. Other recipients of the night included Otara Reggae Band ‘3HousesDown’ (pictured) who picked up awards for ‘Apra Best Pacific Song’. The night was jam packed with performances from groups like: J Williams, Smashproof, The Fuemana Whanau with Sweet & Irie, ending with a showcase from DawnRaid Entertainment. This will be a night to remember, Aotearoa’s (N.Z.) finest Pacific artist celebrating their voice through the language of music. Kia Manuia Tatou katoatoa. Congratulations everyone!!!!!!!

New! The Best”PolyFonk” Album, Out Before Christmas 2010

Polyfonk — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:24:32 +0000

Ardijah have completed a ‘Best of the PolyFonk’ album which will be out before Christmas 2010 but will be first released in Tahiti 14th Aug at the ‘Super Aito’ Oe Va’a (Waka ama) competition. Ardijah will also be playing at the races to introduce the band to our Tahitian brothers and sisters. The Album will also be released in Aotearoa (N.Z.) later on in the year. Lately Ardijah have been doing more Private gigs than public ones so when the album is done, we will endeavour to tour Aotearoa and where ever else our music takes us.

Aitutaki Enua Cyclone Pat Relief Concerts.

Polyfonk — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:22:55 +0000

Ardijah will be part of the fundraising move to help-out those families in Aitutaki Enua, Kuki Airani to re-build their homes after cyclone Pat hit the Island and wiped out parts of the villages. The positive in this disaster was that no-one was killed. A fundraiser concert will be held at the ‘Telstra Events Centre’ in Manukau City on Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd March. Ardijah will perform Monday. Other artists include, Nesian Mystic, Brother Love, Annie Crummer with heaps of local groups and Kuki Airani Drum dance troops shaking their stuff. All proceeds will go to the re-build in Aitutaki.

Ardijah In Rarotonga November 2009

Polyfonk — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:59:03 +0000

Ardijah will be in Rarotonga near the end of November 2009 to play the closing party at this years ‘Vaka Eiva’. When the paddling is done and dusted, all that tension of focusing on strategy needs to be released somehow. Well, that’s when the wild partying starts. What a way to let all those frustrations go. Whether the paddlers will be celebrating their wins or drowning their sorrows and just being happy with participating, the Ardijah players feat. the unique voice of the lovely Betty-Anne will be doing the PolyFonk thang, bringing it home for all involved. This will be one of those, ‘not to be missed’ rages where the atmosphere of the Island will do weird and wonderful things to your insides. So, to all those paddlers and spectators, “May Da Fonk Be wid U”.

Well, just as I thought, This gig went off!! Just as it was described above. What an awesome way to end the competition. People from Tahiti, Hawai’i, Aotearoa and everywhere else, celebrating the PolyFonk music styles with Ardijah.

Manukau Festival of Arts

Polyfonk — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:21:17 +0000

Ardijah performed at the Manukau Festival of Arts with special guest Whirimako Black, Che Fu & Ruia Aperahama. Fonk & soul fused evening, this is PolyFonk at it’s best. Jammin’ their hit songs see the pro’s at work and “Let da rhythms move your bottay”……………We had a blast with this gig. What I saw was all ages young and old. A real community buzz. We ain’t with the main stream music industry but we’re out there with the people keeping it real, celebrating ‘no hype’ music, just pure ’str8 from the heart’ feel good sounz! See you next gig.

Ardijah Live at the Republic Bar, Manukau City.

Polyfonk — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:00:41 +0000

ARDIJAH jammed’ the ‘PolyFonk’ at the Republic bar on the 14Th August in Manukau City…….Well that gig went off. It didn’t take long to be ’sold-out’ so we played to a full house. The start of the night came to a halt after the ‘Manukau Fire Dept’ arrived and tried to evacuate the venue. Apparently the smoke machine for the light show triggered off the in-house fire alarm. They figured out it was a false alarm and let the show fire up. So after a shakey start, Ardijah “brought the house down”. It was pumping so much you could hear it across Manukau City. Well, that’s when the sound control turned up to give the band a warning about the “sub woofers” being too “phat”. Luckily it was the end of the night when they showed up. So.. we came…. we made beautiful music….then added this gig to the long list of ‘gigs to remember’. Thanx for the compliments to all those who were there. Awesome night!

Billy Ocean – Rotorua 20th June 2009

Polyfonk — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:52:53 +0000

The Band Ardijah had the privilege of opening up for Billy Ocean in Rotorua Aotearoa back in June 2009. Billy got to hear the Ardijah soundcheck and was quite impressed. (That’s how we scored the photo) It was an awesome night of music. Ardijah played with the acoustic set-up and got the people up dancing from the first song. By the time Billy Ocean got on, the audience was warmed up and ready to go. Billy’s show was packed with classic hits from quite a few era’s spanning from the 60’s to the 1980’s. Back in the 80’s Ardijah would cover some of Billy’s songs when the band was doing it’s apprenticeship learning about music, audiences and the human interaction thing. There was heaps of reminiscing all round the venue that night. Billy Ocean is planning to return and play the big cities with a bit more notice this time.