Kailao
The Kailao is a Tongan cultural dance. Its origin is from Wallis and Futuna.
History
Its origin is from Wallis and Futuna where it is still performed in public ceremonies. In Tonga it is usually performed at public and private ceremonies. The men, bearing stylized clubs (pate kailao), dance in a fierce manner that emulates fighting, all to the accompaniment of a beaten slit drum or a tin box, which sets the tempo. Unlike most other Tongan dances, the kailao is performed without singing. The sequences of movements to be performed by the group are called by the lead dancer, who will give the name of the sequence, then will signal when to do it. The sequences can involve mock combat between dancers, changes in formation, and tricks involving the pate kailao themselves. The dance displays the dancers' discipline, obedience and skill with their weapon. A similar Rotuman dance, also derived from the 'Uvean original is similarly titled "ka'loa".
The 'Ikale Tahi, the national rugby union team used to perform the kailao with kailao clubs or sticks, as they did against Wales in 1974. However, in the 1980s, the Tonga national team stopped performing the Kailao and switched to the Sipitau which is performed without sticks.
Sipi Tau
The Tonga rugby union national team's pre-game challenge, the Sipi Tau was penned by King Tama Tu'i Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV in 1994, but its origins can be traced back much further. In Tonga in the pre-1800s there were no challenges before war. Indeed, talking was considered a sign of weakness in battle. But in the 19th century a war dance was introduced from the neighbouring Wallis and Futuna Islands and Tonga quickly annexed it. There have been several different Sipi Tau used by the Tongan rugby team over the years, but it is unsure when they were first used in rugby. The latest one was composed in honour of a short, successful tour of New Zealand in 1994.[1] The current words were first used in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Tongan (current words)[2]
Sipi Tau a'e 'Ikale Tahi
- Teu ke tau![3] (Leader)
- Tonga! (Team)
- Teu lea pea tala ki mamani katoa
- Ko e ʻIkale Tahi kuo halofia.
- Ke ʻilo ʻe he sola mo e taka
- Ko e ʻaho ni te u tamate tangata,
- 'A e haafe mo e tautuaʻa
- Kuo huʻi hoku anga tangata.
- Ei! (Leader)
- E!
- Ei! (Leader)
- E!
- Te u peluki e molo mo e foueti taka,
- Pea ngungu mo ha loto fitaʻa
- Ngungu! (Leader)
- ʻIo!
- Ngungu! (Leader)
- ʻIo!
- Ko Tonga pe mate ki he moto (Leader)
- Otua mo Tonga ko hoku tofi'a
- Ei e! (Leader)
- TONGA!
English Translation (current words)
- Leader:Get ready to the battle!
- Team:Tonga!
- I shall speak to the whole world
- The Sea Eagles are famished unfurl.
- Let the foreigner and sojourner beware
- Today, destroyer of souls, I am everywhere
- To the halfback and backs
- Gone has my humanness.
- Leader:Hey! hey!
- Ay!
- Leader:Aye!
- Aye!
- Maul and loose forwards shall I mow
- And crunch any fierce hearts you know
- Leader:Crunch!
- Yeah!
- Leader:Crunch!
- Yeah!
- That's how Tonga dies to her motto
- God and Tonga are my inheritance.
- Leader:Aye, ay!
- Tonga!
Tongan (old version)[4]
- 'Ei e!, 'Ei e!
- Teu lea pea tala ki mamani katoa
- Ko e 'Ikale Tahi kuo halofia.
- Ke 'ilo 'e he sola mo e taka
- Ko e 'aho ni teu tamate tangata,
- 'A e haafe mo e tautua'a
- Kuo hu'i hoku anga tangata.
- He! he! 'Ei e! Tu.
- Teu peluki e molo mo e foueti taka,
- Pea ngungu mo ha loto fita'a
- Teu inu e 'oseni, pea kana mo e afi
- Keu mate ai he ko hoku loto.
- Ko Tonga pe mate ki he moto
- Ko Tonga pe mate ki he moto.
English Translation (old words)
- Aye, ay! Aye, ay!
- I shall speak to the whole world
- The Sea Eagles are famished unfurl.
- Let the foreigner and sojourner beware
- Today, destroyer of souls, I am everywhere
- To the halfback and backs
- Gone has my humanness.
- Hey! hey! Aye ay! Zap.
- Maul and loose forwards shall I mow
- And crunch any fierce hearts you know
- Ocean I drink, fire I dine
- To death or victory my will is fine.
- That's how Tonga dies to her motto
- To her motto Tonga gives all.
Rugby League Sipi Tau
The Tonga national rugby league team uses a different Sipi Tau.
- Teu to ki he tupe!
- Ko e 'aho!
- Ko e 'aho mavava mo e tangi!
- Teu mate maa Tonga!
- Hi!
- Tonga 'e!
- Ta ke hu ki ai!
- Katoa pe!
- Taha!
- Mo e to kotoa!
- Teu fetau folau!
- Hi! Ha!
- Mo e pese!
- Mo e lea!
- 'Otua ke tau!
- Tau malohi!
- 'Ai Malohi!
- Tau Fefeka!
- 'Ai Fefeka!
- Tau ki Tonga!
- To'o mo e hi!
- Tau mo tangi!
- 'I 'olunga moihulo!
- Feinga te tau 'ikuna!
- 'Ikuna kotoa!
- Hi!
This Sipi Tau is translated as follows:
- I will stomp the ground with a thunderous noise
- The day
- The day of clamor and howling
- My life for Tonga
- Yeah!
- O Tonga
- Behold, we make our entrance
- All of us
- As one
- Stomping in unison
- I will journey into battle
- Hee! Haa!
- In jubilation
- In speech
- O God, bless us that we may...
- Fight well
- Be strong
- Fight hard
- Be firm
- Fight for Tonga
- Take with you the "hee"!
- Fight and howl
- Towards the goal
- We must be victorious
- Victory all the way
- Yeah!