The profound legacy of Maya Angelou finds new life in He Kupu Nā Te Māia, a bilingual collection of her poetry translated into te reo Māori. This remarkable work is the 13th release under Kotahi Rau Pukapuka, an initiative dedicated to translating 100 significant books into te reo Māori.
Spearheaded by Pania Papa and a collective of wāhine from Te Panekiretanga o te Reo, this volume is both a tribute to Angelou’s enduring influence and a testament to the resilience and artistry of wāhine Māori.
At its heart, He Kupu Nā Te Māia is a meeting of two worlds: Angelou’s evocative verses, born from the struggles and triumphs of an African American woman, and the rich poetic traditions of te ao Māori. This fusion is far from arbitrary. As Papa highlights, Angelou’s exploration of trauma, marginalisation, and the complexities of familial relationships resonates deeply with the lived experiences of many wāhine Māori. This thematic kinship allows for a seamless, heartfelt translation that preserves the soul of Angelou’s work while infusing it with the beauty and wairua of te reo Māori.
The translation process itself was a deeply creative endeavour. Thirty-four wāhine graduates of Te Panekiretanga o te Reo, the Institute of Excellence in the Māori Language, each selected one or two poems to translate, bringing their unique perspectives and experiences to the project. This collaborative approach results in a diversity of styles, reflecting the individual voices of the translators while staying true to Angelou’s original intent. Translating poetry, as Papa explains, demands not only linguistic expertise but also a keen sensitivity to metaphor and cultural nuance. The resulting work captures both the rhythm of Angelou’s language and the spiritual resonance of te reo Māori.
Presented with English and Māori text on facing pages, He Kupu Nā Te Māia invites readers to engage with Angelou’s poetry through a new cultural lens. For those already familiar with her work, this collection offers an opportunity to appreciate her words anew. For te reo Māori speakers, it provides a chance to connect with Angelou’s artistry in their mother tongue. The inclusion of poetic biographies of each translator further enriches the reader's experience, celebrating the wāhine who have dedicated their lives to the revitalisation of te reo Māori.
The beautifully lyrically ‘Phenomenal Woman’, in which Angelou captures the spirit and strength of African American women in powerful verse, is given fresh perspective like so many other poems from the literary great, through the translation.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That’s me He wahine ahau
Kātuarehe ana
Wahine kātuarehe,
Koia taku mana
Beyond the written word, the launch of He Kupu Nā Te Māia incorporates another layer of artistic expression. A group of wāhine Māori has adapted some of Angelou’s poems into song, with live performances scheduled at the Wellington Jazz Festival. This musical element adds a dynamic and celebratory dimension to the collection, echoing Angelou’s own use of performance to amplify her message.
He Kupu Nā Te Māia is more than a book; it is a taonga—a treasure that bridges cultures, languages, and histories. It stands as a tribute to the enduring power of poetry to inspire, heal, and unite, as well as a celebration of the wāhine Māori who continue to champion the beauty and resilience of te reo Māori. For admirers of Maya Angelou and advocates for te reo Māori alike, this collection is an unmissable work of art.
Reviewer: Chris Reed
Auckland University Press