LEE HARRISON CREATIVE

(1)

THE AFRICAN GAME
2006

The African Game began as a commission by the sports apparel giant Puma for a custom publication that would document and celebrate the brand’s national team sponsorship of Cameroon, Senegal, Togo, Côte D’Ivoire, Angola, Ghana, and Egypt in the lead-up to the 2006 World Cup. The following is from the press release for the resulting 256 page photobook: “The African Game is a unique vision of the continent as documented by Nigerian photographer and filmmaker Andrew Dosunmu and punctuated with vivid essays by journalist Knox Robinson. The African Game looks to soccer as a way to explore modern African life and identity, framing the continent, its sporting passion, and its everyday vibrancy in a way rarely seen — Africa as it actually exists, not as we imagine it to be. The book provides a compelling, on-the-ground depiction of the rich sporting culture that has produced some of professional soccer’s biggest and highest-paid stars. As these pioneers change the way the game is played—and the way we think about the sport itself—The African Game provides a crucial backstory and documents the soccer mania that has gripped the entire continent."

hardcover, 256 pages, 11.25" x 13.25", printed and bound in Italy

Credits
Photography by Andrew Dosunmu
Essays by Knox Robinson
Creative Director, Editor: Lee Harrison
Creative Director: Jeff Staple
Book Design: Daniel Weise
Style Director: Mobolaji Dawodu
Creative Producer: Knox Robinson
Executive Director (Puma): Theo Keetell
Publishers: Puma / PowerHouse Books

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

(11)

(12)

(13)

(14)

(15)

(16)

(17)

(1) A cheer squad for the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2005.
(2) EL HADJI DIOUF, a star player for the national team of Senegal, at training camp before the Africa Cup of Nations, Ismailia, Egypt, 2006.
(3) Supporters of the Egyptian national team at the Africa Cup of Nations, Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt, 2006.
(4) and (5) A bather and a young man on horseback, Labadi Beach, Accra, Ghana, 2005.
(6) A local team celebrates a win, outside of Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2005. 
(7) The national soccer team at training camp, Dakar, Senegal, 2005.
(8) Football fans at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2005.
(9) The pitch before Cameroon vs Egypt, a qualifying match for the 2006 World Cup, Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2005.
(10) A government building in Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2005.
(11) Men gather at an ahwa to watch the Africa Cup of Nations matches on TV, Cairo, Egypt, 2006.
(12) A view of some of the nearly 43,000 fans gathered for Cameroon vs Egypt at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2005.
(13) Young players from the Black Stars of Ghana during downtime at training camp for the Africa Cup of Nations, Port Said, Egypt, 2006.
(14) A bus passenger in transit, Dakar, Senegal, 2005.
(15) Young adults at a dance inside a roadside club, on the route from the coast to Yaoundé, Cameroon, 2005.
(16)  Ivory Coast fans photographed in Cairo as they support their team, and star player DIDIER DROGBA, at the Africa Cup of Nations, 2006. / DIDIER DROGBA during a press event at the Africa Cup of Nations, Cairo, Egypt, 2006.
(17) A supporter of Cameroon running the city streets of Yaoundé en route to the stadium, 2005.