“Africa’s World Cup” is over, but many of us know that on the continent, the games will continue. Such is the all-consuming passion for football in Africa, a fact that Antwerp-based photographer Jessica Hilltout aimed to capture in her just-released book on grassroots football, Amen. The project was first brought to our attention by the team at Aid Watch, and Hilltout’s book has since been profiled in the New York Times’ Lens Blog, as well as in a recent piece by the Times’ Jo’burg correspondent, Celia Dugger. It’s nice to see these stunning photos make the rounds because they really highlight the passion, ingenuity and creativity of the players Hilltout met, from some 30 villages across 10 countries in west and southern Africa—players that don’t necessarily have access to expensive equipment.
And yet.
