Ka Mānu

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"Ka Mānu"
Single by Bella Kalolo, Maisey Rika, Majic Pāora, Ria Hall, Rob Ruha, Seth Haapu, Troy Kingi, The Witch Dr.
LanguageMāori
Released16 August 2019 (2019-08-16)[1]
Recorded11 August 2019
StudioParachute Studios, Auckland
Genrereggae
Length4:50
Songwriter(s)Robert Ruha
Producer(s)Robert Ruha
Maisey Rika singles chronology
"Get Up, Stand Up"
(2016) 		"Ka Mānu"
(2019) 		"East Coast Moon"
(2020)
Ria Hall singles chronology
"Te Ahi Kai Pō"
(2017) 		"Ka Mānu"
(2019) 		"Cause & Effect"
(2019)
Rob Ruha singles chronology
"Te Matatini Ki Te Ao"
(2018) 		"Ka Mānu"
(2019) 		"Stay"
(2020)
Troy Kingi singles chronology
"Babylon Grows"
(2019) 		"Ka Mānu"
(2019) 		"Stay"
(2020)
Music video
"Ka Mānu" on YouTube

"Ka Mānu" (English: "Afloat") is a Māori language song, released in 2019 to protest the Ihumātao housing development. Written by musician Rob Ruha, it was released as a collaboration between Ruha and a number of New Zealand musicians, Bella Kalolo, Maisey Rika, Majic Pāora, Ria Hall, Seth Haapu, Troy Kingi and The Witch Dr.

Background and composition[edit]

Since 2016, protest group SOUL had been occupying land at Ihumātao in Māngere, South Auckland, after Fletcher Building acquired the historical site in order to develop a housing project.[2] On 3 July 2019, SOUL were served an eviction notice, and five people were arrested.[3] On 4 August 2019, SOUL protestors and supporters held a hīkoi to protest this action,[4] and on 5 August a number of protests were held nationally, including at the Fletcher headquarters in Penrose.[5][6]

Ruha was overseas in Japan during the early August protests, and was inspired to write a support song for movement after noticing how much of a national response the protests received.[7] A reggae song sung in G major,[8] Ruha and his wife Cilla began organising the project in early August,[9] and recorded the song on 11 August 2019 at Parachute Studios in central Auckland.[7] The song was released soon after on 16 August 2019.[1]

Ruha was inspiration behind "Ka Mānu" was the story of Jesus walking on water in Matthew 14.[7] Ruha intended for the song to express unity and peaceful resistance, and highlight the common issues indigenous people face globally.[10][7]

Reception[edit]

At the 2020 Waiata Māori Music Awards, "Ka Mānu" won the award for most successful single sung in Te Reo on New Zealand radio,[11] and the Maioha Award at the 2020 APRA Silver Scroll Awards.[12]

Credits and personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal and YouTube.[13][14]

  • Leo Coghini – keyboards
  • Thabani Gapara – alto saxophone
  • Seth Haapu – vocals
  • Ria Hall – vocals
  • Marika Hodgson – Bass
  • Horomona Horo – taonga pūoro
  • James Illingworth – piano, hammond
  • Bella Kalolo – vocals
  • Tyna Keelan – guitar
  • Troy Kingi – vocals
  • Jake Krishnamurti – Trumpet
  • Darren Mathiassen – drums
  • Majic Pāora – vocals
  • Maisey Rika – vocals
  • Rob Ruha – vocals, producer, composer
  • The Witch Dr. – vocals

Charts[edit]

Chart (2019) Peak
position
New Zealand Artist Singles (Recorded Music NZ)[15] 20
New Zealand Hot Singles (Recorded Music NZ)[16] 20
New Zealand Artist Hot Singles (Recorded Music NZ)[17] 2

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Ka Mānu - Single". iTunes. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  2. ^ Hayden, Leonie (September 2017). "When worlds collide". New Zealand Geographic. No. 147. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Ihumātao eviction live: Dogs pepper sprayed, protesters arrested". Stuff. 24 July 2019. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  4. ^ Bond, Jordan (5 August 2019). "Ihumātao protesters move past frontline: 'We're in for the long haul'". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 5 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Ihumātao police presence 'very intimidating' – protest leader Pania Newton". Radio New Zealand. 6 August 2019. Archived from the original on 5 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  6. ^ Daly, Michael; Rosenberg, Matthew (6 August 2019). "Ihumātao: Police deny pushing protester to ground". Stuff. Archived from the original on 5 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d Black, Taroi (11 August 2019). "NZ artists band together with new song 'Ka Mānu' for Ihumātao". Te Ao: Māori News. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  8. ^ Baynes, Mark (December 2020). "X-Factory: Ka Mānu, Rob Ruha & Protest Songs". NZ Musician. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  9. ^ Mulligan, Jesse; Ryan, Charlotte (16 August 2019). "Music 101: Charlotte Ryan". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  10. ^ Booth, Alison Stevens (2021). "Musical Politics: Protest and Dissent in Aotearoa New Zealand". Cidades. Comunidades e Territórios (Au21). ISSN 2182-3030.
  11. ^ "Ka Manu a Winner for Ruha". Gisborne Herald. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  12. ^ "Ihumaatao song wins Ruha third Maioha". Waatea News. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  13. ^ "Credits / Ka Mānu". Tidal. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  14. ^ "KA MĀNU OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO". YouTube. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  15. ^ "NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Hot 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
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