Chapter I – Medellín, Colombia

Culturally, football plays and oversized role in Colombia, as it does in other nations in Latin America. On the few occasions that Colombians can rally around the flag, predominantly – almost exclusively – it is football that calls the masses together to wave the yellow, blue and red tricolour to leap and sing their country’s praise. Yet, those who carry the nation’s pride on their shoulders tend to come from the most excluded sectors of society. They tend to be sons (and also daughters) of those on the margins of society; those who are the least recognised; those with least opportunities; those who are most discriminated against. They tend to be the economically poor and those with darker skins.

Latin American societies are amongst the most inequitable on the face of the earth. And in that sorry league, Colombia is one of the worst. In Medellín and the Aburrá Valley, where these photographs were taken, the stigma of living in a poor barrio will restrict your chances of personal advancement and ensure that there are far more obstacles to getting on in life than for those living in the wealthier neighbours. The metaphor of “a level field”, which refers to being able to compete on equal terms, becomes deeply ironic on the street football pitches of the Aburrá Valley, as it is on those inclines that the poorer youths will be able to compete with less disadvantages than those they will encounter in life beyond the confines of the beautiful game in pursuit of a ball.

A map of the city of Medellín and the locations of the photographs

Paris · Bello Municipality

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