This is a photo book about African football. The photographer and 2008 Prince Claus Laureate Uchechukwu James Iroha collaborated with five other African photographers on 500 photos that focus on football as a medium for the evaluation of social and political problems throughout the continent. These vary from environmental issues to fashion and religion. The photos portray football not only as a sport but also for its socio-cultural success as a unifying factor in Africa. Moreover, this subject was topical bearing in mind the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The Prince Claus Fund supported the publication with a contribution of 10,000 Euros.

The over 500 vibrant color photos and drawings in Unifying Africa illustrate the influence of the game of football on Africa and Africans. The Images and drawings in the book are not only about the sport of football in Africa, but they present in a sincere way, the influence of the game on almost every facet of life of Africans as they negotiate their urban spaces.

Contributors are some of Africa’s finest Photographers and include Michael Tsegaye (Ethiopia), George Osodi (Nigeria) and Andrew Esiebo (Nigeria). Being Africans themselves, they have employed their local knowledge and innate understanding in approaching this project; centered on football and its effects on the people and the continent. The photographers expose the Africanness in Football: the joy of being together, the intensity of healthy competition, the ecstasy of victory, as well as the agony of defeat. Captured in these images are the underlying tones of sovereignty, self-esteem and even religion that permeate the thinking of every football fan on the continent.

Unifying Africa is an attempt to celebrate the color and spirit of the people of this continent. It is also an opportunity to look at Africa beyond the gloomy lenses of political instability and socio-economic underdevelopment, and reveal a deeper, more sensitive view of the continent. Some sociologists suggest that football has done more for the unity and connectivity of nations than political institutions. This book, therefore, salutes with color, flavor and respect, the success of the sport of football as a more effective binding force of unity in Africa.