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Ka Mnu
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Ka Mnu
| cover = Ka Mnu cover.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| type = single
| artist = Bella Kalolo, Maisey Rika, Majic Pora, Ria Hall, Rob Ruha, Seth Haapu, Troy Kingi, The Witch Dr.
| album =
| released =
| recorded = 11 August 2019
| studio = Parachute Studios, Auckland
| language = Mori
| genre = reggae
| length = 4:50
| label =
| writer = Robert Ruha
| producer = Robert Ruha
| chronology = Maisey Rika
| prev_title = Get Up, Stand Up
| prev_year = 2016
| next_title = East Coast Moon
| next_year = 2020
| misc =
}}
"'Ka Mnu'" (English: "Afloat") is a Mori language song, released in 2019 to protest the Ihumtao housing development. Written by musician Rob Ruha, it was released as a collaboration between Ruha and a number of New Zealand musicians, Bella Kalolo, Maisey Rika, Majic Pora, Ria Hall, Seth Haapu, Troy Kingi and The Witch Dr.
Background and composition
Since 2016, protest group SOUL had been occupying land at Ihumtao in Mngere, South Auckland, after Fletcher Building acquired the historical site in order to develop a housing project. On 3 July 2019, SOUL were served an eviction notice, and five people were arrested. On 4 August 2019, SOUL protestors and supporters held a hikoi to protest this action, and on 5 August a number of protests were held nationally, including at the Fletcher headquarters in Penrose.
Ruha was overseas in Japan during the early August protests, and was inspired to write a support song for movement after noticing how much of a national response the protests received. A reggae song sung in G major, Ruha and his wife Cilla began organising the project in early August, and recorded the song on 11 August 2019 at Parachute Studios in central Auckland. The song was released soon after on 16 August 2019.
Ruha was inspiration behind "Ka Mnu" was the story of Jesus walking on water in Matthew 14. Ruha intended for the song to express unity and peaceful resistance, and highlight the common issues indigenous people face globally.
Reception
At the 2020 Waiata Mori Music Awards, "Ka Mnu" won the award for most successful single sung in Te Reo on New Zealand radio, and the Maioha Award at the 2020 APRA Silver Scroll Awards.
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal and YouTube.
*Leo Coghini keyboards
*Thabani Gapara alto saxophone
*Seth Haapu vocals
*Ria Hall vocals
*Marika Hodgson Bass
*Horomona Horo taonga poro
*James Illingworth piano, hammond
*Bella Kalolo vocals
*Tyna Keelan guitar
*Troy Kingi vocals
*Jake Krishnamurti Trumpet
*Darren Mathiassen drums
*Majic Pora vocals
*Maisey Rika vocals
*Rob Ruha vocals, producer, composer
*The Witch Dr. vocals
Charts
References
Category:2019 singles
Category:2019 songs
Category:Maisey Rika songs
Category:Mori-language songs
Category:New Zealand songs
Category:Protest songs
Category:Ria Hall songs
Category:Rob Ruha songs
Category:Troy Kingi songs
Category:APRA Award winners
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