War Dance!; Maori fury as Spice Girls mock Haka.
Maori leaders are on the warpath after the Spice Girls mocked their traditional dance.They say the Haka can only be performed by MEN.
And the girl group could face angry protests if they ever visit New Zealand.
The Spice Girls performed two joke versions of the Haka on a visit to Bali last week.
They were taught the war dance - used by Jonah Lomu and the All Blacks rugby team to intimidate opponents - by two tipsy New Zealanders.
But the joke backfired when the Maoris, notoriously touchy about their culture, got to hear about it.
Expert Willie Jackson fumed: "I'm disgusted. The Spice Girls are on dangerous territory by rubbishing our culture and worse still, mocking our Haka.
"It's a bloody disgrace. We're sick of people bastardising our culture, and we have a way of dealing with them."
He said furious Maoris recently beat up a group of New Zealand businessmen who also mocked the Haka.
"Our people stepped in and gave them a hiding.
"I'm not saying we're going to do that to the Spice Girls, but they better watch their step."
Timoti Karetu, of the Maori Language Commission, added: "It's like the Maori thumbing their noses and making a mockery of Rule Britannia."
"It is unacceptable."
Photos of the group grimacing and fooling around as they attempted the Haka caused deep upset in New Zealand.
But their record manager Bart Cools insisted yesterday that the girls - Mel B, Mel C, Emma, Victoria, and Geri - did not mean to offend anybody.
He said: "They were only following the New Zealanders doing the dance, who did not explain its significance."
"They absolutely did not want to anger anyone. They were there to party with their fans.
"I think they will be really upset about this fuss."
The girls, who shot to fame with hits like Wannabe and Say You'll Be There, are on holiday until next week.
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| Author: | Dowdney, Mark |
|---|---|
| Publication: | Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland) |
| Date: | Apr 29, 1997 |
| Words: | 318 |
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