The haka.

[gordonartist]

Haka

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Haka is the generic name for Māori group dance or performance. The haka is often described as a "war dance", but it is more a chant with hand gestures and foot stamping, originally performed by warriors before a battle, proclaiming their strength and prowess and generally verbally abusing the opposition. According to Maori mythology, the sun god, Tama-nui-te-ra, had two wives, the Summer maid, Hine-raumati, and the Winter maid, Hine-takurua. The child of Tama-nui-te-ra and Hine-raumati, Tane-rore is credited with the origin of the dance.

There are various types of war haka - one performed without weapons, usually to express public or private feelings, is known as the "haka taparahi"; another, the peruperu, is performed with weapons. In former times, the peruperu was performed before a battle. Its purpose was to invoke the god of war and to discourage and frighten the enemy. It involved fierce facial expressions and grimaces, poking out of the tongue, eye bulging, grunts and cries, and the waving of weapons. If the haka was not performed in total unison, this was regarded as a bad omen for the battle. Often, warriors went naked into battle, apart from a plaited flax belt around the waist. The aim of the warriors was to kill all the members of the enemy war party, so that no survivors would remain to undertake revenge.

In today's environment, however, haka are often performed during formal or official welcome ceremonies for distinguished visitors or foreign dignitaries, serving to impart a sense of the importance of the occasion. The most famous modern use is its regular performance by New Zealand's national rugby team, the All Blacks, who perform a haka before international matches not only as a reflection of the importance of the game that is about to be played but also to motivate themselves and their supporters to greater efforts; indirectly then, as in days of old on the Māori battlefield, they are paying a compliment to the perceived skills of their opponents. Other sports that perform haka before commencing a game include Rugby League (the Kiwis), Australian Rules Football (the Falcons) and basketball (Tall Blacks) teams.

Take care.

Gordon