MAORI HONGI
A Maori scholar began his performance by addressing the audience in Maori. In English, he spoke eloquently of indigenous culture as a complex phenomena with two parts –one that was deep and unchanging, and another that was contemporary and emergent. He recommended that in events such as this one, “culture” should infuse the whole event, rather than be bracketed off in particular performances.
Practicing what he preached, he shared his culture with us –not merely by representing it through speech or with a performance for an audience to passively receive; rather, he created an interactive scenario that implicated us all in a performance of what he explained to be Maori indigenous culture.
He gave us a number of “Kora” to the audience, the most memorable of which was the “Hongi.” He explained in English, that in his culture, it was customary for guests to rub noses with the host people. He identified the Kaiapó and Maxacalí as the real host people and suggested the other audience members perform the hongi with them. Anglophone spectators responded enthusiastically, encouraging him with their response. Diana Taylor, insightfully suggested (in English) we ask the host people first. We witnessed Leida explaining the request to the leaders of the Kaiapó and Maxcacalí, who assented. Rumors abounded about what was actually said to them. No one translated to the Spanish or Portuguese-speaking audience members. Then we watched him hongi many indigenous and a few non-indigenous Brazilian audience members.