We start our week of musical and cultural explorations in New Zealand in the most exciting place. While “haka” is a general term for Māori dances, today’s most identifiable haka is a ferocious chant in which dancers pound on their bodies, using themselves as percussion, building confidence and cameraderie before going into battle. The best-known haka is “Ka Mate.” Composed in 1820 by a chief named Te Rauparaha, “Ka Mate” is a rousing chant adopted by New Zealand’s deeply beloved national rugby team, the All Blacks. Watch the All Blacks haka. Amazing. Of course the All Blacks don’t have exclusive claim on awesome hakas. Watch the extraordinary haka in this video, performed by New Zealand’s women’s rugby team, the Black Ferns.
