I’m posting this after getting a request as to what other war dances exist that are performed at the beginning of Rugby… after doing my piece on the All Black haka, Understanding Rugby: The Haka.
So, there are a few other pre-match dances that occur… the Fijians perform the Cibi, the Samoans the Siva Tau, and Tonga have the Kailao.
Without a doubt, the Haka of the All Blacks is more renowned, but others are definitely more war-oriented. The Haka is a dance of celebration, of life-over-death. Each of the others is an actual war-dance.
The Cibi
The Cibi has origins in the warring between other pacific island nations, and was used first in the Fijian national team’s pre-match warm-ups during a tour of New Zealand in 1939. They went on to become the only nation ever to tour New Zealand, and remain undefeated.
Ai tei vovo, tei vovo Make ready, make ready,
E ya, e ya, e ya, e ya; Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Tei vovo, tei vovo Make ready, make ready
E ya, e ya, e ya, e ya Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Rai tu mai, rai tu mai Look here, look here,
Oi au a virviri kemu bai I build a war fence for you,
Rai tu mai, rai ti mai Look here, look here,
Oi au a virviri kemu bai I build a war fence for you,
Toa yalewa, toa yalewa A rooster and a hen
Veico, veico, veico They attack, attack, attack
Au tabu moce koi au It is forbidden for me to slumber
Au moce ga ki domo ni biau Except to the sound of breaking waves
E luvu koto ki ra nomu waqa Your ship is sunk below,
O kaya beka au sa luvu sara Don’t think I’m drowned too?
Nomu bai e wawa mere Your defence is just waiting
Au tokia ga ka tasere To crumble when I attack
A short, of-average-quality clip of the Cibi…
The Siva Tau
The Siva Tau is performed by the Samoan national team. It is still a war dance, tho’ toned down somewhat from the more traditional Ma’ulu’ulu Moa that used to be performed.
Le Manu Samoae ia malu ona fai o le faiva The Manu Samoa, may you succeed in your mission
Le Manu Samoa lenei ua ou sau The Manu Samoa, here I come
Leai se isi Manu oi le atu laulau There is no other Manu anywhere
Ua ou sai nei ma le mea atoa Here I come completely prepared
O lou malosi ua atoatoa My strength is at its peak
Ia e faatafa ma e soso ese Make way and move aside
Leaga o lenei manu e uiga ese Because this Manu is unique
Le Manu Samoa The Manu Samoa
Le Manu Samoa The Manu Samoa
Le Manu Samoa e o mai I Samoa hi The Manu Samoa reigns from Samoa
A clip of the Siva Tau performed by the Samoans vs South Africa
The Kailao
The Kailao is the war dance of the Tongan national team, and perhaps the most ferocious of all. Most Kailao dances do not incorporate singing, but the version performed by the Tongan rugby team - the ‘Sipi Tau’ - does.
ʻEi e!, ʻEi ē! Aye, ay! Aye, ay!
Teu lea pea tala ki mamani katoa I shall speak to the whole world
Ko e ʻIkale Tahi kuo halofia The Sea Eagles is famished unfurl
Ke ʻilo ʻe he sola mo e taka Let the foreigner and sojourner beware
Ko e ʻaho ni te u tamate tangata, Today, destroyer of souls, I am everywhere
ʻA e haafe mo e tautuaʻa To the halfback and backs
Kuo huʻi hoku anga tangata Gone has my humanness
He! he! ʻEi ē! Tū Hey! hey! Aye ay! Zap
Te u peluki e molo mo e foueti taka, Maul and loose forwards shall I mow
Pea ngungu mo ha loto fitaʻa And crunch any fierce hearts you know
Te u inu e ʻoseni, pea kana mo e afi Ocean I drink, fire I dine
Keu mate ai he ko hoku loto To death or victory my will is fine
Ko Tonga pe mate ki he moto That’s how Tonga dies to her motto
Ko Tonga pe mate ki he moto To her motto Tonga gives all
This clip is one of the Tongan Kailao over the top of the Haka… amazing stuff…
So, that’s the 3 other island nation war dances… whilst each one is a very impressive performance, I believe they lack the impact of the the Haka, especially the Ka Mate… but that’s probably got more to do with performance of the teams in actual games, than pre-match rituals.
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I love, love, love this feature. Us Americans don’t really have war chants or songs, and I find them truly hair-raising and exciting to watch.
Heya Extra P… wow… you were quick to see this. JUST up.
Yup, and the clip of the All Blacks & the Tongans having at it is AWESOME…
Hey Don. Thanks for the post! I’ve sent on the link
Yes, it would be cool if the other teams did something like that as well. Surely each of them could find such a war dance in their history.
Sometimes I happen to hit the blog surfer right after someone posts. Today it was your turn. In the past, I had to assure the Ladies… that I was not blogstalking them, I merely happened to catch a post one minute after it went up.
I’m afraid the closest Americans could come to a war dance is breakdancing. And that’s just sad.
Nah, I mean Native American war dances. There must be some that have survived. The Brits & co. could dig up some old Celtic stuff.
Hmmm… yes, but we’d get in deep shit for using Native war chants. We’re still battling over collegiate and pro mascots that “pay tribute” to Native culture.
There is one U.S. universitywhose fans sing a war chant to it’s football team to encourage and to celebrate… Florida State Univ. Simple cliche chant but very moving.
The University of Hawaii football team did a haka before and after every game last year. It was a crowd favorite, and worked with the polynesian influences of the school, however, because it was the All Blacks haka there was “issues”. This year they’re supposedly doing something original.
I have several HAKAs on my iPod… always good for a quick recharge of the spirit.
Great stuff. Thanks
Rhad - the problem with the U of Hawaii Haka was that it was almost an exact copy of the Kapa o Panga…
[...] Understanding Rugby: Other War Dances I’m posting this after getting a request as to what other war dances exist that are performed at the beginning of […] [...]
dude, that was intense crap right there, I love too play rugby, one of my favourites, I have to say myself.
http://www.youtube.com/user/WarriorPanther
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMoiOs6HNmg
check these out…too long for a pre-match chant, but you may find something here