By now the Haka is easily recognizable thanks to social media helping to spread Māori culture. The war dance that creates exaggerated animated faces out of the people participating is done for special occasions, funerals and yes, even rugby games. New Zealand’s ruby team the All Blacks do the Haka before their rugby matches on the field in front of their opponents.
Typically during the Haka the opponents watch respectfully before the whistle blows and the teams face off. But the All Blacks aren’t the only ones coming to the field with their traditional war dance. The All Blacks stood center field across Fiji’s national union rugby team, the Flying Fijians who greeted the New Zealanders with the Cibi.
The Cibi is the Fijian traditional war dance that has been performed at rugby games since 1939, with similar emotion and gestures of the Haka. Like the Haka, the Cibi is generally performed during celebrations though it started as a dance performed before or after war.
The All Blacks recently shared a video of the two teams facing off before the rugby match, each doing their cultural dances. It was such a powerful exchange of culture and people couldn’t believe they had never seen or heard of the Fijian war dance.
“I’ve seen the haka many times. always gives me the chills. this is the first time I’ve ever seen the cibi. that was cool! thanks,” one person shares.
“Well now I am going to fall down a rabbit hole watching Cibi, just like I did the first time I saw a haka,” another writes.
” HAVE to stop when I see Haka! Thank you for introducing me to Cibi. These are beautiful expressions,” a commenter reveals.
“The pacific islands have so many beautiful cultures, it’s always fascinating to see how they share similar characteristics but are each so unique,” someone else says.
This isn’t the first time the All Blacks and Flying Fijians have exchanged war dances and it certainly won’t be the last but to watch both cultures express their traditional dance is something everyone can appreciate. The All Blacks and the Flying Fijians play against each other again July 19 in San Diego, find where to watch it here.
