Haka’ is the name of all types of Maori ceremonial performance
+
performance:
representación
. It dates back
+
to date back:
remontarse (a una fecha)
to 18th-century Aotearoa, the Maori name for what would later become
+
to become:
convertirse
New Zealand. The dance was traditionally performed as a preparation for battle
+
battle:
batalla
, when a tribe was about to leave
+
to leave:
abandonar
their village or just before an engagement
+
engagement:
encuentro
with the enemy. But it was also used as a greeting
+
greeting:
saludo
, when a visitor was welcomed into the community, and as a chant
+
chant:
canto
at funerals.
Modern examples of occasions for haka include family events, like birthdays or weddings
+
weddings:
matrimonios
, to honour guests
+
guests:
invitados
and show the importance of the occasion. Since 1972, the performance of haka has played a symbolic role in the Te Matatini, a famous performing arts festival held
+
to hold:
en este contexto, celebrar, llevar a cabo
every two years in different regions of New Zealand.
PRIDE AND POWER
The dance is performed by both
+
both:
ambos
men and women and is a powerful exhibition of pride
+
pride:
orgullo
, strength
+
strength:
fuerza
and unity. In the haka, the entire body moves in vigorous rhythmic actions: dancers stamp
+
to stamp:
en este contexto, golpear
their feet, shake
+
to shake:
sacudir
their hands and slap
+
to slap:
abofetear
themselves on the chest
+
chest:
pecho
and thighs
+
thighs:
muslos
. It is accompanied by a loud
+
loud:
fuerte, ruidoso
chant and fierce
+
fierce:
feroz
facial expressions, such as bulging eyes
+
bulging eyes:
ojos saltones
and sticking the tongue out
+
to stick the tongue out:
sacar la lengua
, all of them designed to intimidate. The chanted words of a haka often poetically describe the life of ancestors and events in a tribe’s history.
THE LEGEND
Haka has its origins in Maori mythology. The god Tama-nui-te-ra — who represents the Sun —, and one of his wives
+
wives:
esposas
, Hine-raumati — who personifies the spirit of the summer —, had a son named Tane-rore. The Maori believe that the quivering
+
quivering:
tembloroso
appearance of the air on hot summer days is the manifestation of Tane-rore dancing for his mother, and this subtle movement is the embodiment
+
embodiment:
encarnación
of all haka, especially the performers’ trembling
+
to tremble:
temblar
hands, called ‘wiriwiri’, which emulates Tane-rore’s flowing
+
to flow:
fluir
dance, imitating the shimmering heat
+
shimmering heat:
calor resplandeciente
.
KA MATE
The most widely-known haka in New Zealand, the Ka Mate, dates back to 1820 when Te Rauparaha, a war chief
+
war chief:
señor de la guerra
of a tribe on the North Island, composed it when he was hiding
+
to hide:
esconderse
from his enemies in a sweet potato
+
sweet potato:
boniato
pit
+
pit:
foso
. Ka Mate tells the story of Te Rauparaha’s escape from an opposing clan, his fear of capture and relief
+
relief:
alivio
to have survived. It became known to the world in the early 20th century when the New Zealand national rugby team, the All Blacks, incorporated it into their pre-game ritual.
KA MATE: lyrics
Ka mate! Ka mate!
Ka ora! Ka ora!
Ka mate! Ka mate!
Ka ora! Ka ora!
Tenei te tangata puhuru huru
Nana nei i tiki mai
Whakawhiti te ra
A upa...ne!
ka upa...ne!
A upane kaupane... whiti te ra! | I die! I die!
I live! I live!
I die! I die!
I live! I live!
This is the hairy man
Who fetched the Sun
And caused it to shine again
One upward step!
Another upward step!
An upward step, another... the Sun shines! |
