Mantis

Artist bio 

Winner of ABC Radio Australia’s 2025 Pacific Break competition, Ni-Vanuatu rapper Mantis (Ethan-Xavier Hakwa) brings a fierce confidence to his delivery, flow and lyricism. Rapping in Bislama, French and English, Mantis is a product of veteran hip-hop artists before him, mentored by Nawarake, Krasrut Star and Local Remedy amongst others. He uses conscious rap music to tell stories from his life and experiences in Port-Vila while displaying his skill as a lyricist. With influence from rappers such as Kendrick Lamar and J.Cole, he has stated that he takes big inspiration from favorite reggae artist Protoje . Born and raised in Vanuatu, with Tongan and Papua New Guinean heritage, Mantis began making music in 2014 with rap group Confliction and released his first album Personal Therapy after moving to New Zealand to study at university. Since returning to Vanuatu in 2022, Mantis has continued his artistry and passion for music, creating production business Kele Productions, in collaboration with Confliction rap group members.