Ulek
| World Heritage Sites & Treasures List entry: Ulek | ||||||
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What is the ulek?
The ulek is a war chant and dance originally from the island of Lwellsl. When West Ariddia discovered the island, West Ariddian Wymgani were surprised and delighted to hear about a traditional war chant that had been preserved generation after generation, apparently from before the Lwellsl Wymgani had settled the island two millennia ago. Which meant it had come originally from the Ariddian Isles, and had been forgotten everywhere except on Lwellsl.
Wymgani in West Ariddia, and soon in the rest of the Isles, embraced it as a cultural treasure from the past, in need of revival. It was eventually adopted by Wymgani football and rugby players in West Ariddia; at the start of domestic matches, they would perform it against teams containing no Wymgani, to impress and frighten them, and affirm their own identity. Wymgani have been peaceful for centuries, but the ulek was effective and powerful nonetheless. Later, West Ariddia's national football team adopted it, and decided all its players would perform the ulek, not only Wymgani. The new-born tradition spread to North-West Ariddia, then Ariddia too.
Ariddia's football team is the only one currently playing on the international scene. Thus it falls upon players from the PDSRA to perform the ulek against foreign teams. The ulek is performed just after the anthems have been played; the players stand facing their opponents, in a slightly curved line which seems about to close in like pincers around the other team. The Ariddians lean forward balancing themselves almost on their tip-toes, and chant the ulek in a powerful voice, leaping in place and performing choreographed moves swinging their arms as they do so. Finally, they half-kneel down then leap forward at their opponents, breaking up just before reaching them, and returning to their side of the field.
The ulek is also performed by Ariddia's blind football team and Ariddia's rugby team.
The words
In Lwellsl Wymgani
Llseh! Llseh!
Swehashi llosh e lueal o!
Wo’el yeual o!
Al llseh! Al llseh!
Wul ellul sel ei! Wul!
Silew wa oleh!
Sah wa weheshisi!
Sah wa weheshisi!
In English
The ulek is chanted in Lwellsl Wymgani, but, loosely translated, it means this:
Fear! Fear!
Thunder growls in our backs!
Lightning in our eyes!
Fear us! Fear us!
There is no safe place! None!
Flee, and die!
Stand, and be destroyed!
Stand, and be destroyed!
