Cibi
The Cibi ([ˈðimbi] DHIM-bee) is a Fijian meke of Bauan origin and war dance, generally performed before or after a battle. It came to prominence in the rugby field in 1939 when it was performed by the Fiji national rugby union team before the match. It is also known as Teivovo ("war fence", from tei voavoa "planting on abandoned land").[1][2]
Origins
The origins of the cibi date back to the country's warring times with their
In 1939, when Fiji prepared for its first-ever tour of
The chant
Fijian | Translation | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Leader's command | Vakarau! Cibi! | Get ready! Cibi! | ||
Leader's call | Tei vovo, tei vovo! | (twice) | The war-fence, the war-fence! | |
Team response | E ya, e ya, e ya! | Oh, oh, oh![4] | ||
Leader's call | Rai tu mai, rai tu mai! | (twice) | Look here, look here! | |
Team response | Oi au a virviri kemu bai! | I attack your defences! | ||
Leader's call | Tuletule buka! | (twice) | I turn the tree to uproot it! | |
Team response | E ya! | Oh! | ||
Together | Tuletule buka e sa dredre Tou vaka tosoya vakamalua E ya, e ya, e ya, e ya! |
The tree is out of the ground Slowly, we are able to move it. Oh, oh, oh, oh! |
The cibi had perhaps been used incorrectly though, as the word actually means "a celebration of victory by warriors", "a dance of triumph"[5] whereas bole or ibole is the acceptance of a challenge.[6] For this reason, the Cibi was replaced in 2012 with the new Bole[7] (pronounced [ˈᵐbole] mbo-lay) war cry. The Bole war cry has a lot more energy compared to the Cibi and seems far more fitting for the gruelling match that is about to commence, However, after the 2012 Pacific Nations Rugby Cup, the Cibi returned to be used.
Composed by Ratu Manoa Rasigatale, the Bole is translated as follows:[8]
Fijian | English |
Teivovo, teivovo Rai tu mai, rai tu mai Iko na toa yalewa Luvu koto kina nomu waqa Tuletule buka e sa dredre |
I'm challenging you to be uprooted You think I'm afraid of you, You're only a hen, I'm the rooster, I will not be drowned, I can uproot you, |
See also
References
- ^ Gatty (2009). "teivovo", p. 265.
- ^ Fiji Rugby Union>>Rugby House
- ^ Fiji Rugby Union >> History
- war cry.
- ^ Gatty (2009). "cibi", p. 46.
- ^ Gatty (2009). "bole", "ibole"; p. 25.
- ^ "Sportviews.net". sportviews.net. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ New Fijian war dance the "bole", retrieved 2023-04-07
- Source
- Gatty, Ronald (2009). Fijian-English Dictionary. Suva, Fiji: Ronald Gatty. ISBN 978-982-98047-1-6.
- Spoken Fijian: An Intensive Course in Bauan Fijian, with Grammatical Notes and Glossary By Rusiate T. Komaitai, Albert J. Schütz, Contributor Rusiate T Komaitai, Published 1971, Univ of Hawaii Pr, Foreign Language / Dictionaries / Phrase Books, ISBN 0-87022-746-7used for translation