Cricket as a Conflict Resolution Ritual in PNG Paper Example

Missionaries arrived in 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 game became a replacement for vicious, mock warfare, eroticized dancing and chanting, political standing, and damaging tribal clashes (Leach, 2018). Winners become rewarded for successfully winning the game. It is a representation of post-colonialism cultural creativity among the people of the Trobriand Islands. The game is a powerful expression of the Trobriand islanders experience with colonial power and adaptation towards the agency.

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All that originates beyond the islands is considered as colonization. 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 of the islanders as they had their morals and values. The first players of the game just wore their mission clothes, and the first bats were the white man's kind, and 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 (Leach, 2015). 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 (Leach, 2015). The colonists brought their values and morals are seen via being completely dressed, huge houses, and domestic servants. There was the introduction of automobiles and western forms of dressing that came with the colonial power. Traditional warfare was halted, and control by the government was effected through resident's administrators and Papua police officers (Leach, 2015). The following influential period of imperial decree came in the Second World War when land was grabbed, and new machinery brought in (Leach, 2015).

Regarding 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 pre-cricket. The chants which were formerly associated with tugs-of-war were given a new context. Their 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 has placed themselves in positions where they can control the whole event and are required to compensate individuals for their efforts in the events (Leach, 2015). 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 considerable. Their war magic became carried over to the game, and it bared similar roles as those used during the previous 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 the introduction of new dances and chants to the game presented by the colonialists. An intentional message exists in the theme of resistance, intelligent response to colonial power and an imaginative adjustment of native standings to incorporate modern positions while still maintaining local values and beliefs.

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

Leach, W. J. (2018). Structure and message in Trobriand cricket. Techniques and Culture. Retrieved from: https://journals.openedition.org/tc/195