http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/07/02/hearing-african-voices-the-twenty-ten-project/ A soccer blog featuring essays, news and photography exploring soccer around the world Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:48:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/07/02/hearing-african-voices-the-twenty-ten-project/comment-page-1/#comment-25488 Andrew Sun, 04 Jul 2010 02:57:55 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=11626#comment-25488 Fair points / questions John. It is too easy to lump all of Africa together, particularly since that is a lot of what FIFA is selling this World Cup. I would note, however, that for whatever reason a large number of the people I met in South Africa (South Africans, Zimbabweans, Nigerians, Mozambicans, Malawians, Algerians, Kenyans, etc.) really did seem united behind whatever African team was representing during the World Cup--and it probably helped that Ghana was the best this cycle, since Ghanaians generally have a good reputation on the continent and haven't been excessively involved in regional conflicts. I also know that when watching games I did often find myself supporting Mexico (or Honduras) for the sake of wanting to have some pride in CONCACAF--even though that may have been illogical. I also know that when travelling in Africa I've often found myself feeling a strange kinship with Canadians--whereas when I'm at home Canucks seem most foreign. I guess for me the moral is that global identities are a funny, and ever-shifting, thing. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't be more careful about over-simplifying the diversity of Africa. Fair points / questions John. It is too easy to lump all of Africa together, particularly since that is a lot of what FIFA is selling this World Cup. I would note, however, that for whatever reason a large number of the people I met in South Africa (South Africans, Zimbabweans, Nigerians, Mozambicans, Malawians, Algerians, Kenyans, etc.) really did seem united behind whatever African team was representing during the World Cup–and it probably helped that Ghana was the best this cycle, since Ghanaians generally have a good reputation on the continent and haven’t been excessively involved in regional conflicts. I also know that when watching games I did often find myself supporting Mexico (or Honduras) for the sake of wanting to have some pride in CONCACAF–even though that may have been illogical. I also know that when travelling in Africa I’ve often found myself feeling a strange kinship with Canadians–whereas when I’m at home Canucks seem most foreign. I guess for me the moral is that global identities are a funny, and ever-shifting, thing. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be more careful about over-simplifying the diversity of Africa.

]]> http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/07/02/hearing-african-voices-the-twenty-ten-project/comment-page-1/#comment-25480 John Sat, 03 Jul 2010 18:22:12 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=11626#comment-25480 With this World Cup cycle, a lot of people are willing to lump Africa together into one giant ball - as the editors do. How true is this? If Gyan makes that PK, are Malawians going to be as jubilant as a Ghanaian? Would Moroccans be as jubilant? Would it be analogous to Americans should want Mexico to do well in the World Cup, as long as the USA doesn't meet up with them, because Mexico doing well helps CONCACAF? With this World Cup cycle, a lot of people are willing to lump Africa together into one giant ball – as the editors do. How true is this? If Gyan makes that PK, are Malawians going to be as jubilant as a Ghanaian? Would Moroccans be as jubilant? Would it be analogous to Americans should want Mexico to do well in the World Cup, as long as the USA doesn’t meet up with them, because Mexico doing well helps CONCACAF?

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