December 12, 2024

Brooklyn Art Haus

24 Marcy Ave Brooklyn, NY 11211

7:30 PM

Tickets: $25

Pepeha is a way that Māori people from Aotearoa /aʊˌteɪəˈrəʊə/, New Zealand introduce themselves. It tells people who you are by sharing your connections with the people and places that are important to you. It is also a tradition that pakeha /ˈpäkəˌ(h)ä/, non-Māori New Zealanders, are encouraged to participate in. Someones pepeha identifies their mountain, their river, where they are from, their family and who they are.

This performance will follow the singer’s journey discovering their pepeha as they connect with their cultural heritage, will teach new audiences about Māori culture and Aotearoa New Zealand, and encourage them to think about their own heritage and cultural identity through their own pepeha. It is also an exploration of the parallel between this cultural practice and a performer’s artistry.

Through the work of New Zealand composers, a variety of classical works, traditional kapa haka /ˈkɑːpə ˈhɑːkə/ (Māori performing arts) and visual projection, the program will illustrate the singer’s pepeha - their mountain, their river, their home, their family and ultimately