Following social-media backlash after a video of Walter Sisulu University (WSU) doing the haka before their Varsity Shield clash against the DUT Rhinos went viral, “All Blacks” captain Litha Nkula responded on Wednesday.
Accused of cultural appropriation, one fan called WSU out on Facebook: “As a Kiwi this is really in poor taste. The haka belongs to the Maori people. Very disrespectful by this team to think it’s okay to use it for themselves.”
Nkula, though, says performing ‘Ka Mate’, a Maori haka, has become part of his team, also called the All Blacks’, culture.
He tells the Varsity Cup website: “When I arrived at WSU, our late coach Sipho Metula told us stories about how this team got to mobilise and use New Zealand rugby players as icons within the team.
That @AllWsu fire 🔥.
— Varsity Shield (@varsityshield) April 12, 2021
FNB WSU open the first game of FNB Varsity Shield 2021 with their haka. #RugbyThatRocks pic.twitter.com/tKdAzvvBjN
“The players wanted to bring in the haka because they admired the way the All Blacks play.
“We chose the haka because of the style of rugby that we play. We hold ourselves to the standard of New Zealand rugby, we want to play like them. The haka entertains us but also brings that seriousness before a game.
“It has become part of our culture… That’s why we feel that we can’t play without it; it’s part of our team culture...”