Awesome article about Tiwana Tibble, by Anne Gibson

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/anne-gibson/news/article.cfm?a_id=39&objectid=10827040

The relationship between Maori youth and the Hip-hop culture

Photo taken of the great KRS 1 and Kahurangi Tibble at his Auckland show in New Zealand 2012
By Mihikeita Tibble

      

During the 1970’s in Brooklyn, New York, “DJ Kool Herc would play at Block parties mixing samples of his existing records with his own shouts to the crowd and dancers.” Originating amongst the African Americans in the streets of the USA a new cultural movement which consisted of four elements started to take shape and develop out of the ghetto. These elements became known as MC-ing, DJ-ing Grafitti art & Break-dancing and from that Hiphop was born. The Hip-hop culture soon increased in popularity in the USA and became a vessel that would give a generation a voice to the voiceless

Meanwhile in New Zealand, Maori were still trying to establish themselves into Urban society. Maori were poorer economically to the European majority and often felt misplaced and alienated as they had been forced to make the move from there rural homes and hapu (extended family) to work in the major cities.

By the 1980’s Hip-hop through the mediums visual & sound arrived to the shores of Aotearoa. Many young Maori instantly felt a familiar connection with the music and the culture. The messages portrayed throughout the songs were relevant to them and were ideas in which they could understand & relate to. The beats had exciting rhythm & melodies and the people who were singing them were also of a cultural background that too, had been misplaced in society.

Maori youth began to use MC-ing as a means to speak out about the injustices that were going on in New Zealand society at that time. Artist’s like ‘Upper hutt posse’ and ‘Damb Native’ would converse about such topics, self pride and mana.

Photo taken of the Dam Native crew at the filming of the song 'behold my cool style' from 500ways.co.nz

Grafitti art gave Maori youth a way to express them selves using a different medium. Grafitti Artist such as DLT would incorporate Maori art & tikanga with USA style bombings to create his art using spray cans on walls. 

Photo taken of Maori Breakdancing crew from muzic.net.nz

Photo taken outside DJ Premiers concert Auckland.

Bam and Mihikeita (me)

 

 still more to add to this article, to be continued..................

Harakeke (flax) in Aotearoa, New Zealand

There are many cultural and spiritual elements

associated with harakeke (flax).

Dorothy always saids a karakia (prayer)

before she cuts the harakeke (flax)

When you cut harakeke (flax) you must never cut the (rito) baby or the awhi rito (parents) Maori speak about the harakeke (flax) bush as a whanau (family). Only the leaves third or preferably fourth from the centre, considered as the tupuna ‘grandparent’ leaves are cut. 

Tikanga of Harakeke

• Never cut leaves when korari (flower stalks) are growing.
• You must leave both sides of the plant balanced after cutting.
• If you are pregnant or menstruating you do not harvest harakeke; at this time you are in a state of Tapu.
• You should not try to harvest harakeke if you are unwell as illness and disease also destroy Tapu.
• Harakeke should be harvested during the day when the blades are dry, not at night or in the rain or frost.

Tahuri Tikikiri-ki-te-rangi

Today my second oldest brother ‘Tahuri Tikikiri-ki-te-rangi Tibble’ turns 31 years old. Hari huritau kia koe brother. Tahuri was named after a Grand Uncle of my Nanny Dorothy from Waikato who died in prison at Torbay because he followed Princess Te Puea’s call not to list into the army during World war I. Te Puea Herangi, (9 November 1883- 12 October 1952) was a respected Maori leader from New Zealand’s Waikato region known by the name Princess Te Puea. Her mother, Tiahuia, was the elder sister of King Mahuta.

Once upon a time in Tenotchitlan

In February 2012, I travelled to Tenotchitlan (Mexico city) with a friend for a holiday. One Friday afternoon we journeyed into the City square by train and witnessed a group of Aztec people performing traditional dancers.The Aztecs/Mexicas are native American people who dominated northern Mexico at the time of the Spanish conquest led by Hernan Cortes in the early 16th century. According to their own legends, they originated from a place called Aztlan, somewhere in north or northwest Mexico.  I watched in admiration as I enjoyed the beauty of there cultural dance.

Free the Moko

Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.
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Tongariro te Maunga

Twitter / @richardshype

Maunga Tongariro Erupted last night. Rihi Puhiwahine my tipuna of Ngāti Tūwharetoa for her lover Mahutu Te Toko, of Ngāti Maniapoto composed a song, 'Ka eke Ki Wairaka'

Ka eke ki Wairaka ka tahuri whakamuri,
Kāti ko te aroha te tiapu i Kakepuku
Kia rere arorangi te tihi ki Pirongia
Kei raro koe Toko, taku hoa tungāne
Nāku anō koe i huri ake ki muri
Mōkai te ngākau te whakatau iho
Kia pōruatia e awhi-ā-kiri ana.
Kotahi koa koe i mihia iho ai
Ko taku tau whanaunga nō Toa i te tonga
Nō Mania i te uru, ka pēa tāua.
I ngākau nui ai he mutunga mahi koe.
Kāti au ka hoki ki taku whenua tupu,
Ki te wai koropupū i heria mai nei
I Hawaiki rā anō e Ngātoro-i-rangi
E ōna tuāhine Te Hoata u Te Pupū
E hū rā i Tongariro, ka mahana i taku kiri.
Nā Rangi mai anō nāna i mārena
Ko Pihanga te wahine, ai ua, ai hau,
Ai marangai ki te muri e
Kōkiri!

On the summit of Wairaka, as I turn for one last look,
My sorrow and love burst forth,
Take flight over Kakepuku hill,
Soar up to the heights of Pirongia
And to you below there, Toko, my cousin and lover.
I was the one who turned away—
How slavish and cowardly not to seek
Two more nights of close embraces!
It is you alone who have my heart.
O my love, my kinsman, descended from Toa in the south,
From Mania in the west, we were well matched.
I wanted to end my days with you,
But now I go back to my own country,
To the boiling springs that Ngatoroirangi,
With his sisters Te Hoata and Te Pupu,
Brought from Hawaiiki,
Bubbling up at Tongariro to warm my body.
It was our father the Sky who married Tongariro to Pihanga,
Making the rain, the winds and the western storms.
Go forth, my love!

Photo taken of Mount Tongariro on Desert Road New Zealand 07/08/2012

Puti puti Kaneihana e!

Pretty little Maori girl 'Saphire Iri te Kura' on the day

of her cousin's Hari huritau (Birthday)

Putiputi kaneihana e

Mäku koe e kato e

Mehemea ko koe

Taku tau puma

Piri rawa i tënei uma e

photo taken on the 28/07/2012

Little Waihi

As children we would make the trip down to a place called Little Waihi with our whanau (family) once a year in the school holidays. We would see all of our cousins, aunties & uncles, Nannies & Koros, and have such a wonderful time. In the day we would play games with each others, swim in the Lakes and Hot Pools and in the night sing waiata's (songs) and listen to stories in the Marae. Ko Tuwharetoa te Iwi, Ko Tongariro te Maunga, Ko Taupo te Moana, Ko Te Heu Heu te Tangata.

Photo was taken of Tapeka Marae at Waihi Village on the South Western shores of Lake Taupo.

07/11/2010

On the Saturday just gone, I attended a very emotional, moving ceremony at Orakei Marae called a Poroporoaki (farewell). The purpose of this was to farewell my Father 'Tiwana Tibble' as CEO from Ngati Whatua o Orakei. Orakei Marae is located on Bastion Point and is such a unique, special place toTamaki Makaurau (Auckland). This day was very memorable, and will stay in my heart forever. Photo taken at Orakei Marae, Bastion Point 04/08/2012