Traditional oral introduction in Māori culture For the Six60 song, see Pepeha (song).
A pepeha is a traditional oral recitation given by a person when introducing themselves in the Māori culture of New Zealand. It is often part of a formal greeting or mihi.
A pepeha is given in the form of a list, telling a story of a person's connection with the land and with the people on it, a reflection of the Māori people's name for themselves: tangata whenua (literally "people of the land"). Pepeha are often given on formal occasions, such as at a hui. It is possible for one person to have more than one pepeha, especially if they are linked to more than one iwi.
Typical format
Most pepeha follow a ritual format, starting with a greeting, then listing personal connections to the land — a personal mountain and river — before listing iwi affiliation, family, place of residence, and name.
A typical pepeha may take the following form. This pepeha is for a person called Tīpene, from the Kāi Tahu iwi and living in Dunedin (Ōtepoti):
- Tēnā koutou katoa (greetings to all of you)
- Ko Kirimoko te māunga (my mountain is Kirimoko)
- Ko Waitati te awa (my river is the Waitati)
- Ko Tākitimu te waka (my ancestral canoe is the Tākitimu)
- Ko Kāi Tahu tōku iwi (my tribe is Kāi Tahu)
- Ko Kāti Huirapa tōku hapū (my sub-tribe is Kāti Huirapa)
- Nō Ōtepoti ahau (I am from Dunedin)
- Ko Tīpene tōku ingoa (My name is Tīpene/Stephen)
- Tēnā tātou katoa (greetings to all of us)
Use by non-Māori
While the use of a standard pepeha by Pākehā and other non-Māori is acceptable, some authorities suggest an amended form of the pepeha in those instances where one is needed. One such formulation begins with the greeting, followed by " is my ancestry, but is where I grew up", followed by the usual formulation.
See also
References
- Donovan, E., "The anatomy of a pepeha," Radio New Zealand, 16 September 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ "Pepeha, takai.nz. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- Opai, K. (7 August 2022). "Pepeha for non-Māori". e-Tangata. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
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