Telek

George Telek Mamua MBE, commonly known simply as Telek, is a musician and singer from Papua New Guinea. He has won one ARIA Award for this 1997 self-titled album. Telek sings in his native language, Kuanua, and in Tok Pisin. Many of his songs are sung in three-part harmonies that are characteristic of the Tolai.

Career 1959–1995: early years Born in 1959 in Barovon village near Kokopo in East New Britain Province, Telek is one of the few Papua New Guinean singers to gain an international following. Telek sang with various bands in Papua New Guinea early in his career - most notably with the contemporary Tolai group Painim Wok where he was the lead vocalist.

In 1989, Telek met David Bridie of the Australian band Not Drowning, Waving, and they recorded the album Tabaran, which was released in 1990. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1992, the album was nominated for ARIA Award for Best Indigenous Release.

1997–2002: Telek and Serious Tam Telek released his debut solo album, Telek in 1997. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1997, the album won ARIA Award for Best World Music Album.

Telek recorded his second studio album Serious Tam in 2000 at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios in England. The album was released in July 2000. Telek toured the album across Europe, Australia, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

2003–2011: Amette, Matogo and Akave In March 2003, Telek recorded his third studio album, again with David Bridie as producer. The album sees a slight departure from his previous two efforts focusing on the more acoustic side of Telek's writing, featuring a mix of string band, Pacific roots pop and traditional Tolais songs. Amette was released in October 2004.

In 2006, Telek's three studio album were repackaged and rereleased to coincide with an Australian tour with his band The Moab Stringband. This tour featured a range of artists from around the Pacific, including Not Drowning, Waving, Tony Subam, Pius Wasi, Albert David, Djakapurra, Frank Yamma and Airi Ingram.

2012–present: A Bit na Ta, Malira and cancer In 2016, Telek again joined with David Bridie for the project A Bit na Ta (Source of the Sea); a multimedia installation based on the lives of the Tolai people. An album of the same name was released. The album was nominated for Best Global/Reggae Act at the 2017 Victorian Music Awards.

In 2018, Telek was diagnosed with mouth cancer. The cancer was successfully removed by a surgeon in Brisbane, and Telek's voice was not affected. He was quoted as saying "I'm okay because they took the tumour from my lips. It didn't go into my mouth, it was just on the outside".

In September 2025, as part of Not Drowning, Waving, Telek released the album Malira. The album came about as the band prepared to play in the Sydney Festival and worked on the tracks that became part of the album. Telek also performed at the Melbourne Recital Centre in September 2025 as part of Not Drowning, Waving.

Discography Albums + List of albums, with Australian chart positions

Released: 1990 Label: WEA (903172999.2) Format: LP, CD, Cassette 80

Released: 1997 Label: ORIGiN (OR030) Format: CD

Released: 2000 Label: ORIGiN (OR055) Format: CD

Released: 2004 Label: The Blunt Label / Shock (20047) Format: CD

Released: 2007 Label: Wantok Musik (SV0587) Format: CD

Released: 2008 Label: CHM Supersound (CHM881) Format: CD, cassette

Released: 2010 Label: Wantok Musik (W0002) Format: CD, Digital download

Released: September 2015 Label: Wantok Musik Format: CD, Digital download Note: compilation

Released: 2016 Label: Wantok Musik Format: CD, Digital download

Released: October 2022 Label: Wantok Musik Format: CD, Digital download

Released: September 2025