Moana and the Moahunters
Encyclopedia
Moana and the Moahunters (and successor group Moana and the Tribe), was a Māori hip-hop and roots group from New Zealand
, led by singer Moana
that actively promoted Māori culture
, traditions and history through their music.
Moana's first release was a 1991 12" single, "AEIOU(Akona Te Reo)”, which translates as “Learn the Language”. The song was a plea for the Maori youth to work actively to preserve their culture, learn about their history and keep traditions alive by learning the language. The song combined rap, which had recently become popular in New Zealand, with traditional Maori songs, which not only showed the increasing localization of rap in New Zealand, but was used to attempt to appeal to the Maori youth to encourage them to study their own culture and not simple blend into the growing global culture. The song was nominated for several awards in 1991 and again in 1995, after it was remixed . They released two full-length albums in the 1990s, after which they were invited to play international festivals such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Womadelaide
in Australia
.
Their second album was titled Rua and also combined pop, hip-hop and Maori music. Not only did the songs on the album deal with themes important to the Maori people like spirituality and prophecy, but the album cover used traditional Maori symbols, replacing the graffiti often seen on covers of hip-hop albums with an image more pertinent to the Maori people. Other songs even discussed colonial issues, such as the Treaty of Waitangi
, signed between the Maori people and the British government during the 1840’s. These songs bring information about Maori history to the youth in the form of hip-hop. The group scored a gold record in New Zealand and a hit single; Moana retired the group after performing at the 1998 Vancouver Folk Festival, but a reformed group (as Moana and the Tribe) scored success worldwide with a 2003 album, Toru. and later Wha (four in Maori)
Moana and the Tribe,
Moana and the Moahunters from New Zealand combined rap, soul, and reggae with traditional Maori chants, haka (Maori posture dance) and musical instruments (taonga puoro). This group has won a New Zealand
industry award for best Maori rap song “Learn the Language.” This group had a unique style by innovating hip hop genre by adding their Maori language, which comes from Polynesia. Moana Maniapoto who has led the group, has been described as the diva of the Maori music. Moana and her group have impacted a large population because of their style and message to the public.
Besides being known for their music, Moana and the Moahunters were also known for their performances. While their music was categorized as hip-hop, the group was also well known for their excellence in the traditional Maori haka
. During concerts they show images related to their music and the Maori people. For example pictures of the New Zealand landscape or traditional Maori tattooing known as Ta Moko
, are often displayed behind the group. When asked about the focus of the group, leader Moana states that many of their issues are universal, such as oppression, spirituality and the land, issues that are also closely tied to hip-hop culture in general. Despite the many aspects of hip-hop culture that are present in Moana and the Moahunter’s music, the group tries to focus on three ideals, respecting women, Maori pride and respecting all of humanity. In doing so, the group encourages positive Maroi ideals in youth and those who listen to the music .
A very important aspect of Moana and the Moahunters is their strong ties to their Maori http://www.moananz.com/maori.html culture and heritage. Although they rap mostly in English, because most Maori youth do not speak Maori, they are rapping about the necessity of studying their history and culture. When the group received a New Zealand Music Industry award in 1992, they accused the New Zealand radio of being racist against Maori groups. They insisted that Maori music is “underground” and that it was being refused air time by the radio DJs. This strong tie to their culture and this insistence about being heard is a very important part of the group’s dynamic as a whole also.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, led by singer Moana
Moana (singer)
Moana Maree Maniapoto MNZM is a New Zealand singer, songwriter and documentary maker.-History:As a performing and recording artist, Moana has pushed the boundaries of Māori music with her unique blend of traditional Maori musical elements and contemporary western grooves.Both her recorded and...
that actively promoted Māori culture
Maori culture
Māori culture is the culture of the Māori of New Zealand, an Eastern Polynesian people, and forms a distinctive part of New Zealand culture. Within the Māori community, and to a lesser extent throughout New Zealand as a whole, the word Māoritanga is often used as an approximate synonym for Māori...
, traditions and history through their music.
Moana's first release was a 1991 12" single, "AEIOU(Akona Te Reo)”, which translates as “Learn the Language”. The song was a plea for the Maori youth to work actively to preserve their culture, learn about their history and keep traditions alive by learning the language. The song combined rap, which had recently become popular in New Zealand, with traditional Maori songs, which not only showed the increasing localization of rap in New Zealand, but was used to attempt to appeal to the Maori youth to encourage them to study their own culture and not simple blend into the growing global culture. The song was nominated for several awards in 1991 and again in 1995, after it was remixed . They released two full-length albums in the 1990s, after which they were invited to play international festivals such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Womadelaide
WOMADelaide
WOMADelaide is an annual world music and dance festival, which was first held in 1992 in Botanic Park, Adelaide, South Australia as part of the WOMAD series of music festivals. WOMAD events are a showcase of different sorts of music, arts and dance. They encourage people to experience the music of...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Their second album was titled Rua and also combined pop, hip-hop and Maori music. Not only did the songs on the album deal with themes important to the Maori people like spirituality and prophecy, but the album cover used traditional Maori symbols, replacing the graffiti often seen on covers of hip-hop albums with an image more pertinent to the Maori people. Other songs even discussed colonial issues, such as the Treaty of Waitangi
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
, signed between the Maori people and the British government during the 1840’s. These songs bring information about Maori history to the youth in the form of hip-hop. The group scored a gold record in New Zealand and a hit single; Moana retired the group after performing at the 1998 Vancouver Folk Festival, but a reformed group (as Moana and the Tribe) scored success worldwide with a 2003 album, Toru. and later Wha (four in Maori)
Moana and the Tribe,
Moana and the Moahunters from New Zealand combined rap, soul, and reggae with traditional Maori chants, haka (Maori posture dance) and musical instruments (taonga puoro). This group has won a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
industry award for best Maori rap song “Learn the Language.” This group had a unique style by innovating hip hop genre by adding their Maori language, which comes from Polynesia. Moana Maniapoto who has led the group, has been described as the diva of the Maori music. Moana and her group have impacted a large population because of their style and message to the public.
Besides being known for their music, Moana and the Moahunters were also known for their performances. While their music was categorized as hip-hop, the group was also well known for their excellence in the traditional Maori haka
Haka
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...
. During concerts they show images related to their music and the Maori people. For example pictures of the New Zealand landscape or traditional Maori tattooing known as Ta Moko
Ta moko
Tā moko is the permanent body and face marking by Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. Traditionally it is distinct from tattoo and tatau in that the skin was carved by rather than punctured...
, are often displayed behind the group. When asked about the focus of the group, leader Moana states that many of their issues are universal, such as oppression, spirituality and the land, issues that are also closely tied to hip-hop culture in general. Despite the many aspects of hip-hop culture that are present in Moana and the Moahunter’s music, the group tries to focus on three ideals, respecting women, Maori pride and respecting all of humanity. In doing so, the group encourages positive Maroi ideals in youth and those who listen to the music .
A very important aspect of Moana and the Moahunters is their strong ties to their Maori http://www.moananz.com/maori.html culture and heritage. Although they rap mostly in English, because most Maori youth do not speak Maori, they are rapping about the necessity of studying their history and culture. When the group received a New Zealand Music Industry award in 1992, they accused the New Zealand radio of being racist against Maori groups. They insisted that Maori music is “underground” and that it was being refused air time by the radio DJs. This strong tie to their culture and this insistence about being heard is a very important part of the group’s dynamic as a whole also.
Discography
- Tahi (Southside Records, 1993)
- Rua (Tangata Records, 1998)
- Toru (2002)(SonyBMG, released as Moana & the Tribe feat. Moana Maniapoto in Europe
- Toru (2003)(Black Pearl /maorimusic.com, released as Moana & the Tribe in New Zealand
- Live & Proud (DVD/ Sony, (2003) released as Moana & the Tribe in Europe
- Live & Proud (DVD/ Rajon NZ, (2007) released as Moana & the Tribe in New Zealand
- Wha (Black Pearl/ Ode Records, (2008) released as Moana & the Tribe in New Zealand and Australia
- Acoustic(Black Pearl/ Rajon NZ, (2010) released as Moana & the Tribe in New Zealand