Fiji, Tonga, Samoa… These other versions of the “haka” of the All Blacks at the Rugby World Cup – Libération

Rugby World Cup 2023 in FrancedossierAfter the war dance of the New Zealanders this Friday, September 8 against France, all the Pacific teams present during the competition will perform their own version. With, each time, a cultural and psychological issue.

Jaws clenched, eyes bulging, arms flapping, bodies swinging, feet tapping the ground… This Friday, September 8 again, the All Blacks will begin the match before kick-off with their now famous haka.

A pivotal moment in the psychological battle between the thirty players, this war dance is however not unique to New Zealand. All Pacific nations practice their own version. This ritual, always authorized by official authorities, allows teams to respect and promote their cultures. Overview of the hakas you will see during this World Cup.

The New Zealand “ka mate”

The classic among the classics. Inducted in 1884, the All Blacks haka waited almost a century to reach the impressive form we know. Before 1987, the warrior dance, performed by a team of Pakehas (white people) who were neither convinced nor convincing, had almost the appearance of a rock dance…

It was at this time that the haka became the bridge between the cultures of the Pakeha and the Maori, the indigenous Polynesian populations. Emblematic, sometimes imitated and parodied without much respect for its spiritual dimension, ka mate occasionally gives way to a more violent version, kapa o pango.

This war dance was once performed by warriors before battle. Kapa o pango is much less popular with the general public, particularly in the West, because of the simulated throat slitting at the conclusion. “The act of cutting one’s throat is linked to going to war and showing the other that one will do one’s best to annihilate them. In the context of rugby, a combat sport, it was adopted as a pre-match ritual, that’s all,” informed Malcolm Mulholland, professor at Massey University, in Libé on the occasion of the Cup. du monde 2011. New Zealanders evoke the energy that rises from the heart to the throat before being expelled with the final “ha”.

The words: “Leader: Listen! Prepare yourselves ! Line up! In position ! Yes ! Clap, clap your hands on your thighs! Stomp your feet as hard as you can! Entire team: As strong as you can! It’s death ! It’s death ! That’s life ! That’s life ! It’s death ! It’s death ! That’s life ! That’s life ! Here comes the hairy man! Who went to find the sun, and made it shine again! Face it! Stand in line! Face, face in a row in front of the shining sun! Yes !”

The Fijian “cibi”

The cibi, or teivovo, seems less impressive than the All Blacks’ version, but it allowed the Fijians to beat the New Zealanders seven times in 1939, the year their war dance was introduced. This still remains the best record for a foreign team touring New Zealand.

In a semi-circle, the Fijians perform their gestures quite far from each other, while their leader, in the center, shouts. The group advances towards their opponent before jumping. For the record, the cibi was specially created to respond to the New Zealand haka.

The lyrics: “Get ready, get ready / Look this way, look this way / I’m building you a wall / Look this way / I’m building you a wall / A rooster and a hen / They attack, they attack / I’m not allowed to doze off / Except when I hear the waves breaking / Your ship lies at the bottom / But don’t think I’ve sunk too / Your defense is just waiting / For me to attack it to collapse.”

The samoan «war dance»

Siva tau did not exist before rugby. Created by Samoan leaders motivated by the idea of ​​promoting a strong identity, the dance was specially invented for the national team in the 1980s. This in order to take advantage, a little, of the profits that the All Blacks derive of their haka in media terms. On the island, rugby presents an interest that goes far beyond that of the sport and the field. Ultimately, it is one of the rare opportunities to get Samoa talked about internationally. The World Cups and their large television audiences serve as a window for this small country. The siva tau is a gateway into Samoan culture.

The lyrics: “Samoa! Let’s go to war! Fight hard! You have to give everything! Warriors! Let’s go! Warriors of Samoa, May your mission succeed! Warriors of Samoa, May your mission succeed! Warrior of Samoa, I’m ready / There’s no other team, anywhere / I’m ready, completely prepared / My strength is at its peak / Push yourself, step aside / For this warrior is unique / The Samoan warrior / The Samoan warrior / The Samoan warrior rules in Samoa.”

The «cheap price» tongien

The sipi tau of the Tongan Islands is a form of kailao, a traditional dance performed during ceremonies by men. Exclusively reserved for players of the national rugby team, sipi tau was written in 1994, even if its origins are much older. Like Fiji and Samoa, the Tongan version of the haka also has a link with the All Blacks. It was created in honor of a victorious tour of New Zealand.

The lyrics: “Ready for battle! Tonga! I’m going to talk to the whole world. The sea eagle died of starvation. Let the stranger and the visitor be warned. Today, everywhere, I am the demolisher of souls. From the running backs to the fullbacks, I am no longer a human being. Hey ! Hey ! Hey ! Hey ! Hey ! Hey ! I will mow down the mauls and the forwards! And will bite into all the fierce hearts you know. Crush ! Yes ! Crush ! Yes ! This is how Tonga is dying for its currency. God and Tonga are my heritage. Eh eh ! Tonga!”