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Cricket As A Conflict Resolution Ritual in Papua New Guinea
Cricket As A Conflict Resolution Ritual in Papua New Guinea
Cricket As A Conflict Resolution Ritual in Papua New Guinea
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CRICKET AS A CONFLICT RESOLUTION RITUAL IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA 2
Missionaries arrived to Eastern Papua New Guinea and introduced cricket to the native
society of the Trobriand Islands. Adaptations have occurred in that society for almost an era
which has seen the introduced game of cricket transform in means that are exceptional to the
native ways of life and desires of their indigenous social order. The colonial game became a
replacement for vicious, mock warfare, and damaging tribal clashes, allowed for eroticized
dancing and chanting, and helped to elevate local political standing. Winners become rewarded
for successfully winning the game. The game is a powerful expression of the Trobriand islanders
experience with colonial power and adaptation towards autonomy. It is a representation of post-
All that originates from beyond the islands is considered as colonialism. The form of
cricket seen in the British context is similar to what was introduced by the missionaries in New
Guinea. Cricket was presented as a means of entertainment and to substitute the warfare and
encourage new values and morality, but this implicated the culture and power of the islanders as
they had their morals and values. The first players of the game just wore their colonial mission
clothes, and the first bats were the white man’s kind. The Trobriand Islanders used the ball since
the white man had shown them that way. The initial native players were the first to convert to the
Methodist religion introduced by the missionaries, and the game was played initially on the
British colonialism arrived in New Guinea and erected their flags imposing their rules on
the indigenous people. Alien institutions were imposed on the people through white masters,
exploring officials, naval officers, and gunboats. The colonists brought their values and morals
seen via being completely dressed, huge houses, and domestic servants. There was the
introduction of automobiles and western forms of dressing that came with colonial power.
CRICKET AS A CONFLICT RESOLUTION RITUAL IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA 3
Traditional warfare was halted, and control by the government was effected through resident’s
administrators and Papua police officers. The following powerful period of colonial decree came
in the Second World War when land became grabbed, and new machineries were brought in.
In terms of resistance, the islanders’ traditions were adjusted to come to terms with the new
state of affairs. The competition became ritualized. Dancing was given a new context, dances
were crafted to follow various local movements and are mimetic in a manner of certain dances of
colonial pre-cricket. The chants which were formerly associated with tugs-of-war were given a
new context. The islander’s bats became painted like war clubs. War uniform was carried over to
become the new uniform of cricket. Trobriand competition style has become assimilated into the
game. Therefore, the local authority have placed themselves in positions where they can control
the whole event and are required to compensate individuals for their efforts in the events. The
compensation is done through the ceremonial exchange of food. The duty of the war magicians
remains unchanged and it has been merged with that of the referee, modifying both former
positions considerably. Their war magic became carried over to the game, and it bared similar
roles as those used during former war such as altering the path of the ball which in warfare
would be a spear while it is in flight. In political affairs, the custom of village collaborations
especially in warfare led to the incorporation of the idea that all men within a community should
be able to participate in the game. This incorporation ended the missionaries’ previous twelve-
man rule.
Cricket has given traditional leaders a new platform identical to warfare within which they
can compete for fame and reputation. Winners are rewarded with yams and other elements. The
custom of festivities during the period of harvest still exists and there has been introduction of
new dances and chants to the game presented by the colonialists. An intentional message exists
CRICKET AS A CONFLICT RESOLUTION RITUAL IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA 4
in the theme of culture and power and resistance; an intelligent response to colonial power and
References
Leach, J. (2015, May 4). Cricket as a Conflict Resolution Ritual in Papua New Guinea. Video