Reimagining sport for peace and development: a decolonising arts-based research approach in Post-Colonial Fiji

This Working paper examines the potential of arts-based research methods as a decolonising approach within Sport for Development and Peace (SfDP) initiatives in postcolonial contexts of the Global South. Drawing on my doctoral ethnographic study in Fiji, it focuses on young Indo-Fijian women—descendants of Indian indentured labourers—and their (lack of) participation in sport and Fijian physical culture. Physical culture is defined by the socially constructed beliefs, values, practices, and norms surrounding the body and physical activity; these are shaped by Indigenous traditions, Indo-Fijian cultural practices, colonial legacies, and global influences. This paper addresses the enduring legacy of colonial “divide and rule” strategies, particularly the racial divisions between Indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians. The study highlights how creative multi-modal, non-traditional research methods can generate culturally grounded insights into the lived experiences of marginalised communities, offering spaces for identity negotiation and self-representation. By using the Fijian case study, this paper argues that arts-based methodologies can serve as both effective research tools and platforms for social dialogue, inclusion, and racial healing. It reimagines the role of SfDP in challenging structural inequalities and fostering intercultural understanding among migrant and diasporic communities across colonised nations in Oceania.