What is kilikiti?

Cricket was introduced to the Polynesian Islanders in the 1800s by English missionaries. 

Samoa looked at it. And they thought that they would create a fun, vibrant, fast-paced and community-focused version known as kilikiti  (or kirikiki or even kilikiki)! 

Teams of 15 to 20 people see who can get the most runs. The teams take it in turns to bat and field. On the pitch things are much more fluid than in cricket. There aren't 6-ball overs. Depending on which end the fielding team has thrown the ball to (the striker's or non-striker's end), the fielding team can bowl the next ball from that end! So you have two wicket keepers on the pitch, one ready at each end. The ball is smaller and more bouncy than in cricket. The bat (the pate) is over a metre long and based on the traditional Samoan war club. The aim of the game is......... swing big or go home!

It is very popular in Samoa and is recognised as a national sport there. It is played across the other Polynesian Islands and is now very popular in New Zealand and Australia where big competitions are held.  Wherever there are are Pacific Islanders it is played!

Two teams playing each other is about two communities coming together and having a wonderful time. In Samoa (and elsewhere in Polynesia) villages play each other, as do church communities. It is not uncommon to find grandparents, parents and grandchildren all playing on the same team. There is a designated chief-of-fun on each team (called a Faia'oga). They have a whistle and they dance and sing and taunt the other team (especially batsmen who have just got out) and lead the festivities! Everybody in the community gets involved in the food and the singing on the sidelines. In fact, it is said that the only universal rule in kilikiti is that the hosting team forfeits the match is they can't provide enough food for everybody! 

Players wear brightly coloured team t-shirts and sarongs (the lavalava). Teams will frequently seek guidance and a blessing from community elders before and after matches (the guidance or support from the elders is known as the tapna'iga) (the blessing is known as the fa' amanuiaga). The culture of kilikiti is very much about fellowship.