Cibi

The origins of the cibi date back to the country's warring times with their Pacific neighbours and intertribal warfare. On their return home the warriors heralded their victory by displaying flags – one for every enemy slain. They were met by the women who would sing songs with accompanying gestures. The cibi was meant for open battle to inspire the troops, but it was sung with more vigour when the victorious army returned home to celebrate.

In 1939, when Fiji prepared for its first-ever tour of New Zealand, the captain, Ratu Sir George Cakobau, thought his team should have a war dance to match the All Blacks' haka. He approached Ratu Bola, the high chief of the warrior clan of Navusaradave in Bau,[http://www.fijirugby.com/teams/international/flying-fijians/ Fiji Rugby Union >> History] who taught them the Cibi which has been adopted as Fiji's pre-match ritual ever since and went on to become the only team to remain unbeaten on a full tour of New Zealand.

+ ! ! colspan="2" |Fijian ! !Translation
Leader's command | colspan="2" |Vakarau! Cibi! | |Get ready! Cibi!
Leader's call |Tei vovo, tei vovo! | rowspan="2" |(twice) | |The war-fence, the war-fence!
Team response |E ya, e ya, e ya! | |Oh, oh, oh!intoned as would in a war cry.
Leader's call |Rai tu mai, rai tu mai! | rowspan="2" |(twice) | |Look here, look here!
Team response |Oi au a virviri kemu bai! | |I attack your defences!
Leader's call |Tuletule buka! | rowspan="2" |(twice) | |I turn the tree to uproot it!
Team response |E ya! | |Oh!
Together |Tuletule buka e sa dredre Tou vaka tosoya vakamalua E ya, e ya, e ya, e ya! | | |The tree is out of the ground Slowly, we are able to move it. Oh, oh, oh, oh!

The cibi had perhaps been used incorrectly though, as the word actually means "a celebration of victory by warriors", "a dance of triumph"Gatty (2009). "cibi", p. 46. whereas bole or ibole is the acceptance of a challenge.Gatty (2009). "bole", "ibole"; p. 25. For this reason, the Cibi was replaced in 2012 with the new Bole{{cite web |url=http://sportviews.net/view.php?id=ko7mQkYZsvI |title=Sportviews.net |website=sportviews.net |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127134915/http://sportviews.net/view.php?id=ko7mQkYZsvI |archive-date=27 January 2022 |url-status=dead}} ({{IPA|fj|ˈᵐbole|pron}} mbo-lay) war cry. The Bole war cry has a lot more energy compared to the Cibi and seems far more fitting for the gruelling match that is about to commence, However, after the 2012 Pacific Nations Rugby Cup, the Cibi returned to be used.

The Bole however has not been used after the 2012 Pacific Nations Rugby Cup match against Tonga. The Flying Fijians have opted to use the Cibi for the rest of their matches. The current reason for the team removing the Bole is unknown.

Composed by Ratu Manoa Rasigatale, the Bole is translated as follows:{{Citation |title=New Fijian war dance the "bole" | date=16 June 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko7mQkYZsvI |access-date=2023-04-07 |language=en}}

Fijian |English

style="padding-right:48px" | Teivovo, teivovo Io, io, io, io; Teivovo, teivovo Io, io, io, io Rai tu mai, rai tu mai Oi au a virviri kemu bai Rai tu mai, rai tu mai Oi au a virviri kemu bai Iko na toa yalewa Veico, veico, veico Au tabu moce oi au Au moce ga e domo ni biau Luvu koto kina nomu waqa Kaya beka au sa luvu sara Nomu bai e wawa mere Au tokia ga ka tasere Tuletule buka e sa dredre Tuletule buka e sa dredre Tuletule buka e sa dredre Io, io, io, io; | I'm challenging you to be uprooted Yes, it will be done Let's turn them up side down" Yes, it will be done You think I'm afraid of you, You can't break my defence, You think I'm afraid of you, You can't break my defence, You're only a hen, I'm the rooster, Let's fight and you'll see I don't sleep and will watch you. My strength can reach the crushing of the waves I will not be drowned, You think you'll defeat me by drowning? Your fence is only made of creepers It's easy to untangle I can uproot you, I can uproot you. I can uproot you. Yes, it will be achieved.

{{Portal|Sports}}

• Haka (sports)
• Kailao
• Sipi Tau
• Siva tau

{{Reflist|2}}

;Source

• {{Cite dictionary |year=2009 |title=Fijian-English Dictionary |dictionary= |publisher=Ronald Gatty |location=Suva, Fiji |last=Gatty |first=Ronald |isbn=978-982-98047-1-6}}
• Spoken Fijian: An Intensive Course in Bauan Fijian, with Grammatical Notes and Glossary By Rusiate T. Komaitai, Albert J. Schütz, Contributor Rusiate T Komaitai, Published 1971, Univ of Hawaii Pr, Foreign Language / Dictionaries / Phrase Books, {{ISBN|0-87022-746-7}} used for translation

{{Commons category|Cibi}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzgOEH3rEhU Cibi on YouTube]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110927172134/http://www.thepacificislanders.com/ Pacific Islanders Rugby Teams supporters website]

{{Fiji national rugby union team}}

{{Culture of Oceania}}

Category:War dances

Category:Culture of Fiji

Category:Ritual dances

Category:Rugby football culture