If you are a sport lover like me, you just have to see the Haka performed by the New Zealand Rugby team before each of their matches . I am not a rugby fan, but it is so spectacular to watch this Maori war chant that they perform before every match.
I got the following original text and translation of the Haka from http://www.nzallblacks.net/haka.asp
Ringa pakia
Uma tiraha
Turi whatia
Hope whai ake
Waewae takahia kia kino
English Translation:
Slap the hands against the thighs
Puff out the chest
Bend the knees
Let the hip follow
Stamp the feet as hard as you can.
Ka Mate! Ka Mate!
Ka Ora! Ka Ora!
Tenei te ta ngata puhuru huru
Nana nei i tiki mai
Whakawhiti te ra
A upane ka upane!
A upane kaupane whiti te ra!
English Translation:
It is death! It is death!
It is life! It is life!
This is the hairy person
Who caused the sun to shine
Keep abreast! Keep abreast
The rank! Hold fast!
Into the sun that shines!
New Zealand is not the only team to have such a pre-match ritual. Samoa, Fiji and Tonga also have their own version of war chants.
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