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Rotuman Custom as told to Gordon Macgregor in 1932
from notes archived at
Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawai'i

Music: Chants

Category:

Music

Topic:

Chants(1)

Consultant:

Isimeli

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Temo of Malhaha

Tukaga fesi Ravaki taumou
Se rupi vao araga sousou
Vakoi se mursava e pukuro
Atu tupua arame kajoujou
Pephaua ese aitu mou
Aragavaka fagoipurot
Usuaki ka foli uha foou
Ma mosa ia e tani te kopukop
I sio se Haua mohoumohou
Noho tupua siu la foou

General translation: A handsome young man of Oinafa came to Malhaha and was killed by the people on Solheta. He stood up and saw the island of Haua just before he died and exclaimed, "This is my last look," and then dropped dead.

This song was made about the party from Oinafa who came to steal food from Malhaha. The young man was the adulterer of Tua's wife. (Probably not a temo).

Category:

Music

Topic:

Chants(2)

Consultant:

Isimeli

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Song about the cemetery Savaniu in Malhaha, composed by Ismeli on the occasion of the death of Ufamorat's grandfather.

Temo or kau temo famör al.

Mose e pogi ma gou kele
fagata tei tokana
e faheapa
Kopeta e rani ofo ma
manaki ma fuena la noho
Masaro se tufutona
Atai e laloga ne suura
Raumea la lao la manea
Hauena e utu ne faraseaga
Kana se lepei mama
kele e gagaja haita eaga
Hoto e fesi se Sausiro
kele e tafoua leilei.
Lepei te foliu ahelava
siga poufu ne mafamafa
Lagi te ramua agatau
haihoaga la hau
Kana se ou tokagasau
taksio ma toka e fakasau
Hau on tia agatau
Savaniu fora e manumanu
Hauan e malu haitaega
tiki sio ma toka e faega

Category:

Music

Topic:

Chants(3)

Consultant:

Isimeli

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

War Temo

Afai ne moas tala to
Heatua ka kitoa gogoeo
Sa Aitu ta roua isi
Hafu so ta vili poropororir
Naga te jajia roifi
Fakrau ma poto ta
Kate po
Amamaua mori ulu se kopu
Pelu te ei tarau rua
Sua (Aua?) faeag ole tue
Sapo sio ka rani haprua
Aura se toia utu hala
Aga te tofia se sala
Afai ne moas tala to

Category:

Music

Topic:

Chants(4)

Consultant:

Isimeli

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Faguta war

Ipi ti rourou kou sui afa ma foou ne Tokerau
Lagite ramua tau se kikol
Murime e foa taka ma surou
Seu e takes rau ne sauaf
Pari eas ifo se foh ta'a maia mosi arakau
Aua se firi leva hu hat
Fila la puen se ufag la (hoiarag ma pelu fag)
Ma lelu vahi e mua on Ravak.

Category:

Music

Topic:

Chants(5)

Consultant:

Marakava
Fred Gibson

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Temo I

Tuagaane to ma kate fu
Fakasara e te Noatau
Utut e muri ka see katu
Rui rui mee ou mako tau
Opoli inafo ta suki utu
Ma asu asu faka ne Raho fufu
Taka e ara kau ka rara tu
Kui e ta saru ia ona furu
Karoana e laloga masofu
Ma ilaila ia ka forotu
Ona tino faka mena aasu
Ma rarara faka ne as pu
Sina po se faea kele suru
Ma sui ne mafa
Ferei ma ona huga senei ka safu
Garu ava ma suru ne Aitu
Lao roro ma Sau ta e ituu
Kanami ka hai ke malumalumi
Rogota ma sei fora totonu
Tuakoi ofiena e Pelu
Tore hani ma loto sei la fu
Kopu la fakaaki se ta fupu

 

Tuagaane (Wallis Island word)

 

 


masofu
= a volley

tino = image (obsolete word)


senei
(foreign word)

 

totonu = direct (obsolete word)

Category:

Music

Topic:

Chants(6)

Consultant:

Marakava
F. Gibson

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Temo II

Matua rau tei suru kia
Rekareka rau tei kaparia
Kuo ko Sina e tapuutia (ta puutia)
ma te orooro te Savaiki
Agi mai e vakaua pipi
Oso e tasi ta ma Tuasiri
Fafao e fuafua ririki
Tei kapana asa arafaga
Ma tasi matua ma tasi taga
Savao ko Sina ma ou avaga
Rogorogo Manono ma Aporiga (or: Rogorogo Manono makpoga)
Savaiki ne ofi ona Kaiga
On ulu o neu ma ona rau
Soloan do ale faka Sau (or: Sau ra e atua alu vaka Sau)

Matua (Samoan word)
kaparia (Samoan word)
tapuutia (Samoan word)


Tuasiri = turtle at Juju

Category:

Music

Topic:

Chants(7)

Consultant:

Marakava
F. Gibson

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Temo III

Faifesi ka savini o noa
Ogo ogo ka tina vautoa
Faka fulagi ia ma kauata
Pure kao se Ragafuat
Suru tonu se ofua Moraa
Ne tuku se ia Urakmat
Joro teu ne hule ne atakoa
Ne ruturutu lae ola afa (ofa)
No sio se Tau ragatoka.

Category:

Music

Topic:

Chants(8)

Consultant:

Marakava
F. Gibson

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Temo V

Ko Fanei ma Fanaforau
Ka leu ne ou soa la ao
Afea e soan ona Ioro
Afutufutua makiro
Aragi ne on ri tala soko
Salata re ia kavei nojo
Huai ne Rotuma noonoom
Saatarua kite ma fafo
Solo sagahula ma solo ono
Hifu ma valu aroi e alo
Sao see e utu Saukamo
Furou ko ea si on solo
Noaia e Togafiti lao
Sav lehua ma vakata solo
Ka hanua ona Umutaorot
Rita Garisau not la vak
Ae fu see ma tirotirom
Fakatausia la maomaop
Fau kafa ma fau alevero (olevero)
Lei te afiora ta ora sok

Temo IV is missing from Macgregor's notes

This temo sung with slow clap and quick after clap in 2/4 time.

Category:

Music

Topic:

Chants(9)

Consultant:

Marakava
F. Gibson

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Temo VI

Tupueta ma rani mea e mua
Halava ia laloga e keua
Ipe ta saa manoa ma ufua
sori sori ka malu ia hanua
Sisilo ma aura se roua
tamura ona kau urufenua
lepit-e Nisega ma valu la hua
toka sio sini Tui te Rotuam
Vaimea ta lagi toga ta jaua
ko tamura ona Furisefaua
kapa tuku se rere Haua rua
motu haa ona Tokainiua
La fori esia helavaia laloga e Keua.

Translation:

The moon is rising in the west
O how lovely is the country of Keua
The pigeon escaped from the west is soaring
Never leave Sisilo the burying place of Kaur
The sea is wearing off the point at Nesega (Noatau)
That is where Tui Rotuma fell
Vaimea where the Tonga wind strikes
That is where Furi se favua is buried.
Safely alight on Haua the two sacred isles of Tokainiua
Fly back again to lovely Keua.

Category:

Music

Topic:

Chants(10)

Consultant:

Marakava
F. Gibson

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Temo VII

Fefe ka naroue sagou la mir
Ara ma kouia lao to sin
Ne tapen umura pula rahi
Tuku se Tuipepi ma tigoi
Ne ta e mama ma hafu lei
Mere asot te Tokerau matini
Ene sapo mou ou lagi
Hoahoa ou hafu tala mij
Tuku se fugatia fu lepi
Faitau lulia raga kari
Manumanu e mena oi asi
Garue garue se ha'aofi hanisi

sagou (foreign word)


Tuipepi (foreign word)
tigoi (foreign word)

 


asi
= shell
garue = work
ha'aofi = lighten

Category:

Music

Topic:

Chants(11)

Consultant:

Marakava
F. Gibson

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Temo VIII

Hanisi koromaki ma sau noa
Mau tapeni hifu ta pou toak
Tori vahi ma re pu asoa
Tete fana e lagi ta fu Toag
Tupue te nai topetope foar
Ao ta fuuena e Samoa
Hani faken saisai oa
Ieta gou penapena la hoa
Fakatau koma toretiuen
Hoa ma naage se Tiusek
La sukea vaka ne ou hanue
Moumou hata ne aitu
La fu se fuaga ne ou Sau
Mau sio hanisi ta e gou

 

 

 

 

toretiuen = surplus

sukea = overhaus or remake
moumou = strengthen
la fu se = dedicate
fuaga = carrier
Mau sio... = So that my love will be lightened

Category:

Music

Topic:

Chants(12)

Consultant:

Marakava
F. Gibson

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Temo IX

Mafua ia tore ona Rupesi
Ala ta molia mafa ne lelea
Kava ta imoa se ona maeav
Fono e pipi ta hura tua reav
Otmotu e mua gou raea
Sa utu ka tavake ta nuseu
Faat e Sislio moseana se mean
Ari se mere mitu e maorea
Furisu (ie) ka morii la vaea
Ne Kitama sorau ma Solomea
Ae toua rau tuei pean
Ho se Rotuma ko ai ta poak
Sau rua e Hatana gou hoa
La mauri se la faefaeag
Ufagate mohusu gou falepa
E rau ne sunafia

Category:

Music

Topic:

Chants(13)

Consultant:

Marakava
F. Gibson

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Temo X

Hatana ka asat e mua pania (parua?)
Ona tuuri ta ia ma sianFuri see ka Rotuma ele ia
Se ima (una?) leuta peauta pusia
Atamai la heoheo se ia
Valu te gasava hafu asoa
Ropa ia e holia ne Toga
Te la keleta forau fo'a
Rau pemeku pala soasoa
Gou tofoa rere vaitoka
Mafua se pupu rau sorofu
Agai pite aga se laloga
Mofa mofa e rau ne taroa (tasoa?).

Category:

Music

Topic:

Chants(14)

Consultant:

Marakava
F. Gibson

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Temo XI: Temo of Itu'muta

Ipet e muri sori sori la ufu
Ka e togovae te mohuse
Titi namio ma gou suru la pu
Gere haga e fuatanifau
Soho ia ma asome se gou
Suru (susu?) e logo iao tei ma pu
Tatara ma gou io aa uu
Helava ne omura isu hafu
Faoraki ka gou haguhagu

Category:

Music

Topic:

Chants(15)

Consultant:

Marakava
F. Gibson

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Temo XII: Temo of Noa'tau

Masina rogone taetarmen
Hanisit e huga suru tonu en
Ia hani ne solo umea he
No se gagaja la tukuen
Kura ne isimoe toue
Lepi ta lee vahi la hotien
La marmena se ona hanue
Sola i kiaa hai utugen
Surusua se ut furi marie
Fuuou la mauri tupue
Se ma roe a roe ae.

Category:

Music

Topic:

Chants(16)

Consultant:

Marakava
F. Gibson

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Temo XIII: Temo of Itu'muta

Mafatoa ma ona vaotoa
Gogoro ma faka lio ne soa
Savea male sautuku toka
Fupu aiitu loua nofou
Ole ne kava tasu momosoa
Ramarama toesagone Toga
Feausu temo ma taranoa
Hagua manava se ona ojoga
Maimai e aituta fora
 
Inaina ma gou hanisi ia
Tei ka lagi tala to ma ia
Mauea ma ia hilihilia
Ka koroa ma isa taunaia
Hoa se Rotuma la keleakia
Na la aura la afiakia
On ri hafu gou osi osia
Vekoa e lei ma mafa ne tiaf
Vahi see ma fgou suruakia
Ou ala gou fakaa matia.

Category:

Music

Topic:

Chants(17)

Consultant:

Marakava
F. Gibson

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Temo IV

Tui Raurava ma tupua sun
Ati karaua mafa me fan
Tokana e heome se gou
Lio faka ake ne isu hafu
Helavaia lagi toga ka suru
Aamegege le Timrau [Tin(i)rau]
Gagaja heome ka ona liuga sun
Sagi hani vaeva sousou
Kate pua e temo aamou
Fakama ia tuku la forau
Hanisi e mofa no manumanu.

Category:

Music

Topic:

Chants(18)

Consultant:

Marakava
F. Gibson

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Temo XV

Ala ta molia fa Noatau
Faka rua ipa toe fau
Poa e pogi ma paufurau
Susuaki ka maru e Tinirau
Parua mena ta rierie se ona fau
Rutu faka asa kiaa e Tanu
Ke aa tohi ta rua (ma?) afuafu
Hefu ta timoena se utu te fau
Putu se paufu ma saagarau
Suru no aiitu vao ma laan
Refrain: Ko laana ma gou fakasau.

Category:

Music

Topic:

Chants(19)

Consultant:

Marakava F. Gibson

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Temo XVI: Temo of the Malhaha chiefs

Tupueta ma hofumea e mua
Helava laloga e Pephaua
Lepit e Farema valu kuakua
Sori tiva foa la aasua
Ufiamorata ma Firikitua
Nau e potea havei ma tuan
Lagita la Forage se Varomua
Se Tui Rotuma kata puapua
Goa ne tuumoa kale aua
Se Solvalu vaea e aura
Aipoa ma fui sarusarua
Tuimanava henu karana
Asota palapala kaunofua
Hanifakaga ma Tavake mea (rua?)
Fakatafesi fupu la mafua
Hea ae se gasava takirua
Hanisi e Mose ma gou kotua
Rakatoaga maru ta kopua
Toutou ne hata mara la hura
Omoea Sauroro ma Tafua
Lio ne Purotu aasunu huag
Hae ke ipa to e Tuuar
Ko laana ma gou fakarava.

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