Photography

The African Game

Andrew Dosunmu (photography), Knox Robinson (text)

2010

Andrew Dosunmu (photography), Knox Robinson (text) · 2010 · Nigeria/USA

Commissioned to document Puma-sponsored African national teams, blending documentary photography with cultural essays.

A rare high-production photobook centering African football on its own visual terms rather than as a European subplot.

The Historian

The African Game is a landmark publication that breaks the mold of Eurocentric sports narratives. Building upon the tradition of 19th-century travelogues, Dosunmu and Robinson's collaboration humanizes Africa's footballing heritage through vivid images and incisive essays. This work preserves the aesthetic and cultural specificity of the African game, challenging dominant representations in the global sports media landscape.

The Psychologist

The African Game" offers a glimpse into the collective psyche of African nations through their passion for soccer. The desire for national pride and identity is palpable, as each team's unique cultural nuances are showcased alongside the universal language of sport. This fusion reflects a deep-seated need for belonging in a global community.

The Sceptic

The Beautiful Archive's inclusion of "The African Game" reinforces the notion that Africa is a monolithic entity, homogenizing diverse national experiences and stories. The book may overemphasis the cultural significance of football in Nigeria and overlook other countries' contexts. Can we trust Knox Robinson's essays to capture the complexity of African identity?

These are interpretations written in three voices, not quotations from any individual.

Language: English
Length: 256 pp
Subject: African national teams ahead of the 2010 World Cup
Region: Africa
Tone: Celebratory
Difficulty: Familiar

Universe/Rizzoli; secondhand copies

Out of print

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