Karakia

Te Ao Hou, November 1964, Page 45

Karakia Karakia are rapidly intoned ritual chants. The texts are usually archaic and difficult. In some cases it can be demonstrated that the form of words has been transmitted unchanged from Polynesia. This appears to be the case with parts of the karakia for the house dedication ceremony, one of the few traditional

rites still performed. It opens with the words ‘Beat the kawa, water the kawa’. This appears to have little meaning, until it is realised that the word ‘Kawa’ refers to the kava plant of Polynesia, the root of which is beaten to a powder and mixed with water to form a narcotic drink which is of ritual importance. During the nineteenth century a large number of karakia were revealed to the prophets of pai marire, and other religious cults that developed about that time. Some of these are still performed. They probably mark the end of the karakia as a productive literary form, but the particular technique of chanting they employed is still used in the ritual of certain Maori churches. An an example of karakia, I will quote from the dedicatory ritual for a male child, which translates as follows: ‘Dedicated with the sacred water of the God of War, May you grow up and capture men, and climb mountains. Grow up, and fight and rage. Kill men and take forts. Defeat war-parties. Be fierce and brave to bear the club and spear. Grant it to this child that it may be so. Grow up and produce food, and build great houses, and canoes. Summon the people to make nets for you, and to fish for you. Grant it to this child that it may be so.’