Phil Fuemana

Philip Fuemana (6 January 1964 – 28 February 2005) was a New Zealand musician. Affectionately known as "the Godfather of South Auckland", he was highly regarded for his work in South Auckland in establishing the Urban Pasifika sound, founding Urban Pacifika Records in 1996 with Moizna, AKA Brown, Lost Tribe, and Dei Hamo.

Fuemana died of a heart attack at his Auckland home in 2005.

Styled as "the purveyors of Polynesian swing", the band released its first album New Urban Polynesian in 1994. The album was produced and arranged by Phil Fuemana, and has been described as “a uniquely Pasifika take on soul” that reflected his wider aim of putting “young Polynesian artists on the frontline”. Fuemana’s work during this period is also cited by AudioCulture as part of Phil Fuemana’s role as a “trailblazer for Polynesian music” in South Auckland.

The album New Urban Polynesian was reissued in 2024, on vinyl for the first time, by Australian label Gazebo Records. Fuemana also took part in the 1994 Proud project—an album and national tour showcasing emerging South Auckland Pacific artists—which helped bring Urban Pasifika music to wider attention.

OMC The Otara Millionaire's Club was originally formed in 1993 by Phil Fuemana. Fuemana and his younger brother Pauly Fuemana recorded two tracks as the new band for producer Alan Jansson's Urban Pacifica collection, Proud.

Discography

Albums with Fuemana

Year Title Details Peak chartpositions NZ 1994 New Urban Polynesian Label: Deepgrooves Entertainment Catalogue: DG018 — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles with Fuemana

Year Title Peak chart positions Album NZ