The Kailao is a Wallisian war dance imported to Tonga

Tonga

Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...

 from nearby 'Uvea (also known as Wallis Island

Wallis Island

Wallis is an island in the Pacific Ocean belonging to the French overseas collectivity of Wallis and Futuna....

).

History

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 Rotuma

Rotuma

Rotuma is a Fijian dependency, consisting of Rotuma Island and nearby islets. The island group is home to a small but unique indigenous ethnic group which constitutes a recognizable minority within the population of Fiji, known as "Rotumans"...

n dance, also derived from the 'Uvean original is similarly titled "ka'loa"

The Sipi Tau, performed by the 'Ikale Tahi, the national rugby union team

Tonga national rugby union team

The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao . They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...

before each match, is a form of Kailao.

Song: Sipi Tau

Tongan

Ei e!, Ei ē!

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 te u tamate tangata,

A e haafe mo e tautuaa

Kuo hui hoku anga tangata.

He! he! Ei ē! Tū.

Te u peluki e molo mo e foueti taka,

Pea ngungu mo ha loto fitaa

Te u 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.

Ko Tonga

English Translation by Sione Ngahe

Aye, ay! Aye, ay!

I shall speak to the whole world

The Sea Eagles is 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.