Stepping onto the stage at the YumiFM PNG Musik Awards last Saturday night was a deeply moving moment for Roman Kili.
He was there to present the prestigious Justin Kili Award, marking exactly 20 years since his father pioneered the historic initiative.
Moments before stepping into the spotlight, Roman thought about his father and how proud he would be to see how far the country's music scene has advanced. He also recalled the playful, perfectionist pressure his father used to put on the family.
"Everyone that knew dad knew that he was some sort of a perfectionist. At that moment, before I walked out, all I could think of was how proud he would’ve been to see how far Music in PNG has come, oh and of course the 'don’t make me look bad in front of everyone'. Perfectionist I tell ya."
Growing up with a cultural icon, the Kili children saw firsthand that music was more than just a job for their father; it was an all-consuming lifestyle. He worked tirelessly as a radio host, emcee, and journalist.
Yet, at home, he remained a down-to-earth family man. It was only after he passed away in 2015 that his children truly realized the massive scale of his impact on the country.
“We knew dad was an important person in the music industry, but it was not till we lost him back in 2015 that we realized what impact he truly had; he was just Dad, Uncle, Bubu, Papu to us.”
Today, Justin Kili’s name remains securely anchored to the heart of PNG’s biggest music night. He shaped the local industry by creating the country's first music program, its first radio countdown, and its first music awards.
He was a fierce advocate who believed all PNG music was fundamentally great, no matter the genre, and fought for artists to get the recognition they deserved.
He even welcomed musicians into the family home for his Glassim Musik Wantaim JK articles, sharing local delicacies like mumu or aigir during the interviews.
This open-minded philosophy still guides the Kili family today. Seeing the vibrant crowd and the influx of fresh, young talent last Saturday proved that his long-term vision has fully come to life, held together by the high standards he championed.
The Kili family highly praised the ongoing management and staff of PNGFM for keeping those meticulous benchmarks alive.
“Dad always made sure everything was done to the highest standard. I commend the management and staff of PNGFM for continuing to uphold that standard and carry his vision forward."
Roman further shared with PNG Haus Bung the simple rule his father lived by, “Something dad used to tell us was ‘If you’re not doing your best, you’re not trying’. I think that is something everyone can take in on a personal level. Older PNG artists' music styles were influenced by JK in some way.”
This spirit was beautifully illustrated when legendary artists Sharzy and Anslom Nakikus, both close friends of Justin Kili, shared the stage once more in a perfect tribute to his legacy.
“I hope the next music awards is even bigger and better. It was great to see Sharzy and Anslom sharing the stage again. Those were two of dad’s good friends, he influenced their music a lot, I’m sure they would agree."
