Moana's universal music
Top Maori singer/songwriter Moana Maniapoto has four albums behind her Tahi, Rua, Toru (meaning one, two and three), and Moana and The Tribe. She has a big fan base not just in New Zealand but also in Europe and a group of singers and musicians formerly known as the Moahunters performing alongside her. Moana and The Moahunters have regrouped as Moana and The Tribe and continue to be notable for its powerful fusion of music, harmonies and haka (traditional Maori dance). The Tribe, which includes Moana's sister, Trina Morgan, numbers from three to 10 at any one time. When 10 are onstage, the group features three exponents of haka, all from top haka teams who have formed their own group Ihu Waka. (Haka is traditional Maori dance, a version of which has been made famous by New Zealand's national rugby team – the All Blacks.)
A legend of Maori music Dalvanius Prime was a huge inspiration to Moana – helping guide her on the road to musical success. On stage, performing in a television special in the late 1980s, Dalvanius was approached by Moana's ex-husband, who asked the powerhouse of indigenous New Zealand music to put his wife up on stage too. While Dalvanius didn't oblige that time, a few years later he tracked down Moana, wrote four songs for her and guided her on her way. He gave Moana her first break with the song 'Kua Makona'.
Today, guest artists in The Tribe include Richard Nunns, a specialist in traditional Maori musical instruments, breakdancer/rapper Rangi Tukunoa, and Moana's partner and filmmaker Toby Mills who produces the stunning visual effects shown on a huge screen during performances by the group. They include traditional Maori images such as Ta Moko (traditional Mâori tattooing, often on the face, the purpose of which and applications are sacred), artworks from acclaimed Maori artists as well as footage of New Zealand scenery. The visual displays reflect the material about which the group is singing – and include stunning aerial sweeps of New Zealand's spectacular Southern Alps, West Coast beaches and the Urewera forest.
Moana's music often conveys a political message and thus images of Treaty of Waitangi protests may also be part of the stage show (The Treaty of Waitangi is New Zealand's founding document signed between the Crown and Maori in 1840).
Moana says even when performing uniquely New Zealand music overseas, all cultures seem to appreciate the important issues for indigenous people and while they may not understand all the lyrics (many are sung in Maori), the imagery on stage assists in their interpretation. The group has gained a big following in Italy and Germany after performances there in 2001 and 2002. In 2001, the group was part of a Maori business and arts delegation on a commercial exchange with Florence, Italy. An outdoor concert in Piazza della Signoria outside the Palace (Palazzo Vecchio) drew the crowds.
'It was fantastic,' says Moana. 'There we were, performing in front of 5000 people, with the sun going down and we got a tremendous response to the music. Even Dustin Hoffman wandered up and had a yarn to Richard about our show.'
This was followed by eight concerts at other venues around Florence and saw the group gain quite a following. In 2002, Moana and The Tribe were invited back to Italy, for a tour that included a spot on Italian state TV. They played a number of festivals before embarking on a seven-hour bus ride to northern Italy's Faenza, a town that has a close emotional and spiritual bond with Maori.
'We had a ceremony there to honour the Maori battalion from World War II,' explains Moana. 'The relationship with the people of Faenza runs very deep and they are eternally grateful to Maori for liberating their town. We weren't allowed to buy anything while we were there.'
The 28th Maori Battalion fought against the Germans in World War II and secured the freedom of Faenza in December 1944. Many of the battalion were billeted to the town shortly afterwards for two weeks of rest and recreation and formed a close bond with the townspeople. Moana knows of Maori who have named their children Faenza after the little town.
Moana and The Tribe performed a concert in the town square as part of the commemorative service for the Maori soldiers lost there in World War II, and 85-year-old president of the 28th Maori Battalion Major John Waititi, received an award on behalf of New Zealand armed forces. Good relationships were formed with Italian musicians along the way – and the Tribe were joined on stage by clarinettists, cellists, a giant harp player and a pianist during some concerts.
'It created a fantastic fusion of Western music, traditional Maori music, and classical,' says Moana. 'Although at times there wasn't much room to move on stage!'
Moana says the mix of the music of the two cultures – Maori and Italian – on stage was quite challenging in some ways.
'Bands there are quite big, really busy and loud,' she explains. 'Ours is a very simple group, it's vocally based, and it's very spiritual in feel. But what resulted was often spine-tingling stuff.'
In July 2002, Moana and The Tribe released a European debut album. The group has a deal with Pirate Records, distributing through Sony, and has a German agent Sol de Sully. They have appeared in Vogue and German magazine Brigitte and their month-long tour through Germany July/August 2002 drew attention and crowds of up to 10,000. In January 2003, Bavarian TV screened a 45-minute special of the group's August 2002 performance at the Chiemsee Reggae Festival.
'They are fascinated with New Zealand. Maori are exotic. Here [New Zealand] we are dime a dozen, but over there we are different. It's quite good for our egos!,' she laughs. 'People came up to us after the shows, and said 'I had never even heard of New Zealand, and now – after two hours of music and images - I really feel like I know it'.'
Some know it better than others. Moana tells the story of a middle-aged German couple who attended a concert in Christchurch while visiting New Zealand. A few nights later they went to the group's Dunedin concert as well. Moana then spotted them in Frankfurt and thought, 'That couple looks familiar….' And then, there they were in Florence, and in France….
'They are really attached to the band and are very sweet. They wear Kiwi T-shirts. They have been to New Zealand 11 times, always bearing heaps of Swiss chocolate for me and the band.'
Universality is a strong theme in the group's music. While never shying from conveying a political message relating to New Zealand, these often carry themes common for many indigenous people – oppression, land, spirituality being a few examples. But Moana's code for living and universal sentiment can be conveyed through three positive ideas: Mana wahine (respect for women); Mana Maori (pride in being Maori); and Mana tangata (respect for all humanity). Replace the 'being Maori' for pride in any person's culture – and the three make up a strong human ethic and one by which Moana lives. But this 'diva of Maori music', as she has been described, also has something else at the back of her mind. She remembers the words of her mentor Dalvanius in all that she does: 'Be nice to people on the way up; you'll meet the same ones on the way down.'
Still, that could be some time coming for Moana.
Further information:
Moana Maniapoto
Email moana@moananz.com
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