Hip Hop connecting generations at Te Papa this Matariki

Hip Hop connecting generations at Te Papa this Matariki

Te Papa’s kicking off the Māori New Year with a weekend dedicated to rangatahi (youth) and home-grown Hip Hop.

The weekend includes performances, workshops, demonstrations, and forums with P-Money and other local artists including Upper Hutt Posse’s Te Kupu.

A back of house tour with Kiwi Hip Hop pioneer and legend DLT (Darryl Thompson) will explore Te Papa’s Hip Hop collection.

“New Zealand’s vibrant Hip Hop culture now spans over 3 decades,” says Te Papa’s Herbert Bartley.

“This weekend offers an intergenerational approach to Hip Hop. By connecting with our young people through music, dance and art, we want to inspire the creative minds of our future.”

A two metre by four metre wall is also being covered in graffiti art inspired by this year’s Matariki theme and Te Papa’s Māori and Pacific collections.

Sen Thong from Zulu Nation, who partnered with Te Papa on the event, says the work allows artists to visually cross cultures.

“It’s about mixing urban art forms with traditional Māori and Pacific art in a way that’s appealing to young people. Responding to the mana in the toanga they’ve seen throughout the national museum, the graffiti artists are bringing to life the themes of leadership and identity which are so important to the youth of today.”

Some of Hip Hop’s best break dancers will be rounding out the weekend with a battle for the ultimate title in the annual Matariki breaking competition.

Soul Clap begins tomorrow at 11am at Te Papa and is free to attend.

A full list of the weekend’s programme can be found here: http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/WhatsOn/allevents/Pages/MatarikiSoulClapWeekend.aspx

We gratefully acknowledge support from the Wellington Regional Amenities Fund:

Hutt City Council, Kāpiti Coast District Council, Masterton District Council, Porirua City Council, Upper Hutt City Council, Wellington City Council

Te Papa also gratefully acknowledges the support of Te Puni Kōkiri, our Iwi Development Partner

What is Matariki?

The star cluster Matariki (also known as the Pleiades) reappears in the dawn sky above Aotearoa New Zealand in late May or early June. The new moon following the rising of Matariki signals the Māori New Year. Customarily, this was a time to remember the deceased of the past year and to plan for the next year. Today, Matariki has been revived as a celebration of people, culture, language, spirituality, and history. It is a time for whānau (family) and friends to come together to reflect on the past 12 months and look towards the year ahead.

ENDS

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