Andy Tupaia

Tahitian music refers to the traditional and contemporary musical practices of the Tahitian people in the Society Islands of French Polynesia. Before European contact, music was inseparable from dance and public ceremony, centering on the heiva cycle of festivals in which chant, drumming, and dance accompanied celebrations, prayer, and rites of passage. Core elements include antiphonal and responsorial chant, powerful interlocking drum ensembles (toʼere slit drums, pahu and faʼatete drums), conch shell (pu), and the nose flute (vivo). Dance genres such as the men’s ʼoteʼa and the couple’s ʼupaʼupa are emblematic, with music articulated through named rhythmic formulas (pehe) that coordinate ensembles and choreographies. Following the 19th‑century arrival of missionaries, Tahitians incorporated Christian hymnody—giving rise to distinctive multi‑part choral styles (e.g., himene tarava)—while retaining vigorous indigenous drumming and dance. Modern Tahitian music ranges from ceremonial ensembles and choral traditions to popular hybrids that feature the local Tahitian ʻukulele, guitars, and global pop/reggae influences.