2023-05-22 02:11:09
With the approach of the July festivities, the traditional “kilikiti” cricket has been launched in Wallis since this Sunday. A first match between the “octopuses” of the villages of Liku and Akaaka to the “lions” of the village of Mata’Utu, and which brought together many spectators including King Lavelua Takumasiva at the mala’e sagato Soane.
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In Wallis, when you hear whistles, conches or bugles calling on a Sunday, it is indeed a traditional “kilikiti” cricket match, the favorite sport of Wallisians.
As the festivities of the National Day and the Territory Day approach in July, the “kilikiti” season is launched. This Sunday, the first match opposed the “lions” (laione) of the village of Mata’Utu to the “octopuses” (feke) of the villages of Liku and Akaaka, at the mala’e sagato Soane.
Traditional cricket in Wallis is a bit like football or rugby in other countries, it is the “flagship” sport in fenua. When there is a kilikiti match, there are many spectators of all generations. The proof, this Sunday, King Lavelua Takumasiva was in the front row.
The kilikiti is practiced only by men. The rules of the game are quite similar to the cricket practiced in New Caledonia, except that there is only one wicket. The bat is made of bourao wood, and it has a special shape. The ball is made of ironwood, which makes this sport dangerous. Players must be very careful at the risk of injury.
The day before a game, a whole ceremony is organized by each team. Essential rites, in particular to invoke the protective spirits and their forces, so that they accompany the players…
The name of each village’s team can be the names of gods or natural phenomena. For example: Liku is nicknamed the octopus, Mata-Utu: the lion, or even Falaleu, the cyclone…Before the start of the match, the captains of each team determine the rules of the game. The teams can be made up of forty up to to seventy players.
The Kilikiti is an opportunity for several villages to meet and compete in a very friendly way.
Now that the season is launched, it will be the unmissable Sunday meeting. Next Sunday, the Feke Fekai octopuses will face the combined teams of the villages of Ahoa, Falaleu and Ha’afuasia.
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