Indigenous, Traditional, and Folk Sports: Contesting Modernities

This book explores the significance of indigenous, traditional, and folk sports and sporting cultures that have survived the emergence and diffusion of Western sports. It draws on multidisciplinary work from sociology, anthropology, history, cultural studies, and political science to explore key themes such as nationalism, identity, decolonization, and gender. Case studies from around the world, including Turkish oil wrestling, kabaddi, Iroquois lacrosse, wushu, and sumo, showcase these sporting practices and their impact on the indigenous imagination. The book's decolonial perspective promotes indigenous and subaltern worldviews through their traditional movement cultures, offering valuable insights into the complexities and contradictions of modernity.

Format: Hardback
Length: 286 pages
Publication date: 06 October 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This groundbreaking book is the first to delve into the world of indigenous, traditional, and folk sports and sporting cultures. It explores the profound significance of these cultures, which have thrived in the face of modernity and even responded to it in unique ways. Through comprehensive case studies from various regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, the book draws on multidisciplinary research from sociology, anthropology, history, cultural studies, and political science. It examines key themes such as nationalism, identity, decolonization, and gender, shedding light on the complex social dynamics that shape these sporting practices.

From the exhilarating Turkish oil wrestling to the dynamic kabaddi in South Asia, the book showcases a wide range of traditional sports that continue to captivate the indigenous imagination. These practices, situated in the fissures between local, national, and global contexts, occupy a liminal space of transformation as they assume new cultural and political meanings. They offer valuable perspectives on the complexities and contradictions of modernity, challenging dominant narratives and promoting alternative worldviews.

One of the unique strengths of this book lies in its decolonial perspective. It advocates for the recognition and promotion of indigenous and subaltern worldviews through the traditional movement cultures that exist on the margins of the western hegemonic sport complex. By highlighting the contributions and resilience of these cultures, the book seeks to challenge the dominant narratives that often marginalize and oppress them.

This book is a must-read for anyone with an interest in sport, nationalism, Indigenous studies, heritage and folklore studies, anthropology, social and cultural history, or globalisation. It provides a rich and nuanced understanding of the world of indigenous, traditional, and folk sports and sporting cultures, offering valuable insights into the complexities of our contemporary world.

Weight: 710g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032329963