Running head: CRICKET AS A CONFLICT RESOLUTION RITUAL IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1

Cricket as a Conflict Resolution Ritual in Papua New Guinea

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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-

colonialism cultural creativity among the people of the Trobriand Islands.

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

mission headquarters grounds.

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

an imaginative adjustment of native standings to incorporate modern positions while still

maintaining local values and beliefs.

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References

Leach, J. (2015, May 4). Cricket as a Conflict Resolution Ritual in Papua New Guinea. Video

File. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDql5LhHBRc&t=167s