Kapa Haka | NPR

“We perform haka as an expression of pride,” says Karl Johnstone. Kapa haka, a traditional Māori posture dance, “was about not only intimidating the opponents, but it was about how do we actually prevent degenerating into a battle?” he says. “Haka is all about the expression of your inner energy. The shaking of the hands,” says Johnstone, “that’s an expression of our life force … it’s showing that there’s an energy within you.”

Watch New Zealand’s Tuku Iho Living Legacy perform kapa haka at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.


• This New Zealand band is trying to save Māori culture one head banger at a time. https://n.pr/2iTIVeJ

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