If you know me, you'll know I'm not exactly the biggest fan of team sports. I've always preferred solo pursuits — yoga, running, the occasional hike where I get lost and discover some hidden corner of the world (or at least a really good boulangerie).
So, it might surprise you to hear that I love a good sports documentary. Not just for the drama, but for the human stories that unfold behind the stats and trophies.
Well — certain stories at least.
Because let's be honest: professional sport isn't always a beacon of human decency. In fact, it often shields some deeply questionable figures — not just because of money, but because of what these athletes represent. Fans project pride, identity, and even national mythologies onto sportspeople. That's why some will defend their heroes even when the truth is clear — think of the backlash against anyone who dared to question Lance Armstrong before he admitted to doping.
It's one of the reasons I've never been able to enjoy sports in a simple, innocent way. But every now and then, a story comes along that reminds me why sport can also be a tool of transformation.
Fire in Babylon is a documentary that tells the story of the West Indies cricket team — a team that, during the 1970s, rose from underdogs and international punchlines to global dominance. Over the course of two decades, they redefined what success looked like in cricket, and in doing so, challenged some of the deepest legacies of colonialism and racism in the game.
(🔍 Fact check note: The West Indies team went undefeated in Test cricket from 1980 to 1995 — an astonishing 15-year run.)
This isn't just a story of sporting glory. It's about using the very tools of colonialism — cricket — as a weapon to dismantle colonial myths. Cricket had long been used by the British to "civilise" their colonies. But the West Indies team turned the tables. Under leaders like Clive Lloyd and later Viv Richards, they developed a new style of play built around fast bowling — 90mph deliveries that were as brutal as they were beautiful. When I say "brutal" I mean that these bowlers routinely inflicted injuries on the batsmen. Broken noses, jaws, ribs and concussions all happened on the pitch. (A cricket ball, by the way, weighs around 5.5 ounces / 155g and is hard as a rock.)
This wasn't just athleticism — it was protest. A form of embodied resistance. As the team became more dominant, they also became more politically vocal, speaking out against apartheid in South Africa and supporting African nations resisting colonial influence.
The inciting moment? A 1975 Test match against Australia, where the West Indian team not only suffered a crushing defeat but endured racial abuse from the players, the press, and the crowds. The message was loud and clear: the white world wanted to humiliate them.
But instead of shrinking, they roared back. They trained harder. They played fiercer. And they made it personal.
The West Indies' strategy of relentless fast bowling was controversial. The media branded them as "aggressive," "dangerous," "savage." But the truth? They were using a tactic that had been used against them — only now, they did it better.
This wasn't just about revenge. It was about dignity. About saying: we belong here. We are not inferior. And we'll play your game — but on our terms.
There's something deeply moving about seeing sport used like this. As a platform for collective healing, pride, and justice. Yes, there's violence in it. But it's also a deeply political act — an active struggle through performance.
Another thing I love about Fire in Babylon is the richness of culture that runs through it. The music — from reggae classics to contemporary rap verses recounting cricketing legends — gives the documentary a pulse. And the accents, unpolished and authentic, offer something you rarely get in text alone: a sense of voice. Of place. Of history spoken rather than summarised.
The film also touches on how the different Caribbean nations had to find unity. "West Indies" wasn't a natural identity — it was built, through shared goals and mutual respect. That in itself is powerful. We often assume identity is something given to us. This reminds us it can also be chosen and forged.
Whether you're a sports fan or not, this documentary raises important questions about history, race, identity, and power. Here are a few ways you might explore them:
What does national identity mean to you? How much of it is shaped by sport or public figures?
Have you ever cheered for someone or something that, in hindsight, you realise was problematic? Why do you think that was?
What sports heroes did you grow up with? What did they represent to you?
Can you think of examples where marginalised groups have reclaimed symbols or practices of oppression and turned them into tools of pride or resistance?
Write about a time when you felt underestimated or dismissed — and what happened when you proved someone wrong. What inner resources did you draw on?
If this sparked something in you, consider exploring these topics further:
A short history of cricket and British colonialism
Black resistance movements in sport (from Muhammad Ali to Colin Kaepernick)
Caribbean identity and postcolonial nationhood
Fire in Babylon (2010) — Directed by Stevan Riley. A fierce, musical, and politically charged documentary on how cricket became a weapon of resistance.
A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James — Winner of the Man Booker Prize in 2015, this sprawling novel explores Jamaican politics, music, and Cold War geopolitics, centred around the attempted assassination of Bob Marley. Gritty, violent, and brilliant.
Rihanna – On the Record with Fuse — Rihanna reflects on fame, trauma, and artistic growth. Speaking with honesty and strength, she shares how her Barbadian roots shaped her resilience and creativity, and how music became a space for emotional release.
Peter Tosh – "Equal Rights" (1977) — A razor-sharp anthem of black consciousness and international solidarity, from one of reggae's most influential and politically radical voices.
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