Actually, Yes! The Australian teams will often have an Aboriginal dance of a similar nature to the Haka before international rugby matches. Here’s an example - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdhrUKRdKM8
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The siva tau (Samoa) and sipi tau (Tonga) are also good
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How would it be different than a team’s cheerleaders making dirty jokes about another team, or impugning their playing ability? If you think it’s their version of a “dis song”, we already do that in our culture.
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You need to educate yourself. The haka can be a challenge but it’s also a sign of respect. To quote Wikipedia: (emphasis mine)
The haka (plural is the same as singular: haka) is a traditional ancestral war cry, dance, or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand. It is a posture dance performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment.[1]
War haka were originally performed by warriors before a battle, proclaiming their strength and prowess in order to intimidate the opposition, but haka are also performed for various reasons: for welcoming distinguished guests, or to acknowledge great achievements, occasions or funerals, and kapa haka performance groups are very common in schools.
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I always figured the brass band were an extended ritualized raspberry to the opposing team and fans.
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Brass bands are indiscriminate in their effect. The collateral damage includes own forces and civilians. Deploy with utmost care and beware of retaliation in kind.
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I’ve seen the Samoan version. When Jose Canseco was doing his pathetic celebrity wrestling tour, one of his opponents was Vai Sikahema. Vai took it very seriously, trained, and brought a group of drum-banging Samoans to do this kind of hype ceremony.
And then of course knocked out Canseco in a matter of seconds.
Here’s a similar but different video of NZ Defense Force troops honoring a fallen comrade with a haka:
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And to music
People familiar with New Zealand will probably already know it, but just a reminder that Once Were Warriors is a great movie.
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Also, haka are quite commonly performed by whanau (family) at graduation ceremonies as the graduate is capped - which I personally find intensely moving - such tremendous acknowledgement of achievement and mana.
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Here is an army funeral haka, you can easily see the great, great, great Jonah Lomu’s online also.
I was discussing the NZ haka in rugby with a French friend and she pointed out that it could never be as bloodthirsty as the French anthem they sing before games! Our anthem is… not without fault either, though obviously we don’t sing it before most games. I’d rather it was before none and I won’t stand for it or sing it when I am at an Ireland match.
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In my culture it’s considered respectful to answer the haka by singing about bread.
Or saucepans.
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How true. Was thinking how great it would be for this to become a US wedding custom, or better yet, at bar mitzvahs. The kids spend a year attending one after another, they’d get pretty good. Picture a line of 13 year olds giving a Haka their all!
Haka Nagila?
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Hawaii has a haka
And here is the rarely seen English haka, performed at the Bristol Aeroplane Company Rugby Club
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Also, haka are quite commonly performed by whanau (family) at graduation ceremonies as the graduate is capped - which I personally find intensely moving - such tremendous acknowledgement of achievement and mana.
Yes I was coming here to say the same thing - Haka are used in all sorts of contexts - yes school kids are taught them for school sports events but I’ve always found haka and waiata performed at graduations (high school and University) much more moving because they are personal, a small group of family members stand up in a crowd, effectively take over the VERY formal proceedings for a while, and honour their own
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Fuckin A. That movie was awesome. Depressing as shit, but still awesome.
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And school kids!
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Nga mihi Taniwha, ka pai korero, anō te pai!
