Listen to these extraordinary stories from some of the key artists featured in Homeground Festival’s Sorong Samarai – a production rooted in West Papua’s perpetual quest for the self-determination, as promised by the UN and sabotaged by Indonesia.

Brothers Sam and Yosua Roem survived an incredibly perilous crossing with 43 other members of their community in a single wooden canoe. The journey was meant to take a single day but after being lost and marooned at sea it took them five. Somehow no lives were lost.

Ronny Kareni was sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy for an auspicious entry into Australia by plane, settling in Ballarat before starting his Masters of Diplomacy at the ANU in Canberra.

Airileke was born in Adelaide and lives in Cairns but has family in Gabagaba PNG.

We discuss what drove these courageous souls to take sometimes terrifying risks – and how they are actively attempting to improve the lot of their people back home by building bridges internationally.

Then, after sharing these stories of vast (and ongoing) journeys – ‘we don’t cross borders, they cross us’ – all four unite for two live songs together: first via traditional drums alone; then with ukelele added for an ebullient celebration of Pacific heritage.

Listen back to the full episode here. For more sonic storytelling and live to air ditties, tune into Jack Off with Jack Shit – Saturdays from 3pm.