South African rugby team slammed for disrespect after doing a haka

By The Roar / Editor

South African university rugby team Walter Sisulu University have come in for a barrage of criticism, after deciding to do a haka before a match.

The pre-match display has long been a tradition for the All Blacks and other New Zealand sporting teams, with the move accused of cultural appropriation.

Should the haka be only for New Zealanders?

The Crowd Says:

2023-11-27T16:56:39+00:00

Daffyd

Roar Rookie


Aidoc, Kapo o Pango Tana Umaga was the first to lead it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L42auxoTkP4

2023-11-27T16:35:31+00:00

Daffyd

Roar Rookie


I toured NZ as a teenager on a 10 day trip. We played 5 games (won 3/5 :) Papatoetoe (x2), Tarankai, Taupo & Palmerson North. After the games there was a hangi and lots of music and lots of fun. (Taupo was particular fun as 4 of us were billetted with a bachelor butcher who fed us very, very well, watered us with Speights and then took us out to the hot pools to recover. ) After dinner there were the usual speeches and then a haka was performed by the home team. Of course we had nothing to respond with, other than to face up to it. Nevertheless, we were invited to learn the Ka Mate haka. Everybody in the team got involved; players and coaches. The fact that we weren't kiwis was irrelevant. The only expectation was that you respected the haka. I rememeber the phrase along the lines of, "Put your mana into it!" and as long as you were fair dinkum and gave it your best shot, there was a lot of good natured comments and laughs (probably about how crap we actually were.) As far as cultural appropriation... I did think that that specific haka was designed and reserved specifically for the All Blacks. I also understand it was created to reflect the modern multi-cultural make up of the All Black team. I am a little surprised that there isn't a local option for the SA team. Maybe something to look into for them. If I was a SA player I'd feel better if they developed their own local war dance that reflects their own traditions, but on the other hand, using the All Black haka may be the ultimate respect. On tour, each game was started with a haka. I'm pretty sure I would not have felt comfortable responding with a haka, but I'm sure if we'd have responded with mana, it would have been taken in good spirit. Anyway, before if start getting too hungup on cultural appropriation, it will be only the English playing the game.

2021-05-07T03:15:12+00:00

GregM

Roar Rookie


what was the problem – it was performed by a team of all blacks :stoked: (as in not a whitey in the team)

2021-05-05T23:11:29+00:00


Thanks for the update JN. That sounds like an adult solution. Well done to both sides...

2021-05-05T10:30:18+00:00

Just Nuisance

Roar Rookie


I simply had to let you know Jacko.. WS University Rugby team has agreed for now at the request of NZ Rugby to not perform the haka.. They have complied..in return NZ Rugby to send a rep to teach them to do a different form of The Haka which is deemed less offensive....now if only the rest of the World could sort out its differences this way..

2021-04-25T07:39:04+00:00

Somer

Guest


Great point Kiora. Rugby originated in England. If it's deemed inappropriate for non-Maori to perform the haka then is it also inappropriate for non-English to play rugby? A strong and proud culture will happily teach and share, a weak culture will find offense and play the victim.

2021-04-23T08:24:06+00:00

piru

Roar Rookie


So basically what we have now

2021-04-23T08:23:07+00:00

piru

Roar Rookie


Technically anyone with arms and legs can do it, but it's a bit silly if you're not an All Black

2021-04-21T06:36:38+00:00

Aidoc

Guest


Isn't the Haka they are copying the All Blacks one. Kapo Umaga? Then it can only be employed by All Blacks. Mortal Kiwis cannot even do it.

2021-04-20T11:49:08+00:00

Kent Dorfman

Roar Rookie


Spice Girls performed the haka? god help us!

2021-04-20T11:40:13+00:00

James in NZ

Guest


Maybe your buddies Iwi is more old school than these other posters Iwi. Because from the 2 articles I found regarding the 'controversy' from when the Spice girls performed the haka. https://apnews.com/article/6f2c24192b635366b9a03685b7b2564b http://www.stuff.co.nz/video/10461258/Controversial-haka-moments-relived Both articles state that traditionally only men perform the haka. ...."Only men are supposed to perform the haka. ``It is not acceptable in our culture, and especially by girlie pop stars from another culture,″ Joe Harawira, a member of Urban Maorian Authorities, was quoted today as saying by the Dominion daily.""

2021-04-20T10:16:16+00:00

Kiora

Guest


Without cultural appropriation we can't exist happily together. There are many times we need to adopt each other's practices. There are many cultures being exposed to each other thanks to globalisation / ease of world travel and if we're not permitted to adopt practices from each other then we're all poorer for that. Would anyone who argues cultural differences can't be adopted (appropriated) seriously deny anyone the best medical treatment possible because another culture came up with the cure? Or deny the world's best Rugby players (Maoris) the right to play Rugby because it's adopted from British/western culture? Sure, it's NZ culture now to play Rugby. But two cultures had to appropriate each other's practices to exist together cohesively. We all here together in the world and we should be free to adopt what we want respectfully. They say immitation is a big compliment. The Maoris can be proud that this university team wants to emulate them. It's not disrespectful. Turning your back on the Haka is.

2021-04-20T08:56:58+00:00

J Jones

Roar Rookie


You seem very sure of what NZers do and don't have a problem. I'd suggest you're likely to get a variety of responses on any given issue from NZers. If its given media coverage that is another issue entirely.

2021-04-19T23:34:03+00:00

John

Guest


I think the Hakka, as a NZ tradition, should only be performed by NZ. The same goes for the Fijian, Samoan and Tongan equivalents. That said, I think there is need for reform as to not only who it is allowed to be performed by, but also when and where it is allowed to be performed. I think when NZ, Fiji, Samoa or Tonga are hosting it goes without saying that they can perform it on their home soil. However, when they are playing away I think it is up to the host nation as to whether it is performed or not, "when in Rome" and all that.

2021-04-19T21:32:05+00:00

In brief

Guest


Maybe the Africans should in turn ask us to refrain from appropriating rock, jazz, hip hop and all other popular music genres that came from African culture.

2021-04-19T07:58:07+00:00

KCR

Roar Rookie


I think that's how most people see it, a compliment if anything. Glad to see that these young men have been inspired by the style of rugby the All Blacks play. Also happy to hear that Rugby in South Africa has become a game for all. A lot of my limited knowledge comes from talking to a South African colleague who left many years ago, so happy to be wrong there. I had never heard of WSU until now but the bits I picked up from this thread make them sound like a good team, hope they do well. Cheers.

2021-04-19T06:20:16+00:00

Just Nuisance

Roar Rookie


Nice response KCR, but a disagreement on the observation that Rugby is still seen in South Africa as a whites only game.. That's long gone....I really was unaware of this incident until I read it here.. Did a bit of delving subsequently and found out that the WSU Rugby team have called themselves The All Blacks for years now and have been performing the pre match Haka since 2015. It also has little or nothing to do with race as according to their coach, their players are generally small in stature and want to rather emulate The All Blacks style of play than the more traditional forward dominated South African style.....They really are just an amateur Rugby Club having some innocent fun in what they see as a compliment to The All Blacks.. A team whose approach to the game they admire and want to emulate.

2021-04-19T05:00:04+00:00

KCR

Roar Rookie


Cheers wal, I'll try to keep to knee jerk reactions in the future. I absolutely understand your point of view, and believe me I didn't know how to feel when watching it. There was definitely something uneasy about it. I consider myself about as politically and culturally sensitive as a kid from the 90s can be but I often struggle with cultural appropriation, as it is one of those things that can offend without intention. So everyone has the right to their own feelings, which would no doubt come from our own experiences. For me I guess it comes down to understanding, if someone is told how their behaviour is affecting others then they can learn and grow. 9 times out of 10 people aren't trying to offend. As I said it was performed well enough, but for me that is what was confusing as it was a performance and not the expression of cultural identity that comes from growing with the culture. I would liketo see an African cultural expression, unfortunately If WSU had done that no one would talk about it on the internet which is the real shame. Lastly what is the most inappropriate time for a haka, I'm going to go with performing surgery, before hand is fine. Cheers.

2021-04-19T03:47:15+00:00

Wal

Roar Guru


Jeez KCR, that is a far to nuanced and considered response to a complex and sensitive subject. Click bait headlines and kneejerk reactions only on the internet please. I guess the added level of gray is that the performance is Kapo O Pango, as opposed to Ka Mate, and certainly the intent is not of disrespect. I probably fall on the side of it shouldn't be done, for almost any other situation regardless of intent it would never be ok for another race/culture to use traditional ceremonies from someone else. I certainly feel a fair bit shame, having in my younger years been one of those drunk Pakeha doing the Haka at inappropriate times.

2021-04-19T03:04:12+00:00

Kent Dorfman

Roar Rookie


you're the one getting fired up mate so you're the one who obviously takes it personally

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