Similar syllables and improvisations are found in Tahitian Himene tarava.
It contains a female soprano melody called a perepere, and a male bass line with rhythmic grunting.
[2] An example of one of these performances occurred at the Cook Islands Christian Church at Titikaveka, where it was sung by many native children.
[3] Imene tuki was documented by missionaries arriving in the island in the 19th century.
They were impressed by the scattered sounds, rhythmic chanting, and swaying of the music.