Egypt in Colors

When all is said and done, this year's African Nations Cup competition in Egypt will be remembered as the most colorful ever. I am not referring here to the players' performance on the pitch which has been superb. I am talking about those die-hard football fan(atic)s who have traveled for thousands of miles to support their national teams.Even folks with absolutely no interest in football have been dazzled by the breathtaking display of creative body art, and African traditional attires in the stands. Here is my pictorial tribute to this "other Africa" which is full of color, creativity, passion, and unadulterated joy. Yes, Africa, is much more than those distressing images from Dafur, Cote d'Ivoire, Congo, etc. It is a vibrant continent with unique sounds and colors, and inhabited by resilient and resplendent people who stand tall in spite of the Herculean challenges that they face on a daily basis. Nkosi Si-kelele Afrika (God Bless Africa)!

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Comments

[ernest]

Another perspective from "Cameroon Tribune"...

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Match of Fanatics

All teams in Egypt are accompanied by obsessive, patriotic support groups.

Their unique look makes it easy to spot them from a distance. Generally, they need no introduction. You only need to look at them to know the team which they support. This is because they paint their bodies with their national colours.

These are fanatics. They are members of obsessive and patriotic support groups which are accompanying their national football teams to the 25th African Cup of Nations in Egypt. Some of them are in their first Nations Cup appearance. Others, such as Cameroon's Ngando, are regulars and can be considered as the mascots of their national teams. All the fanatics, however, are motivated by one force; the zeal to see their teams win.

Unlike ordinary spectators, these fanatics, most often men between 20 and 50, support their teams with their bodies and souls. They sing, dance and even cry. Most of them carry objects which can make them pass for mad people if taken out of the stadium. Others expose themselves to cold putting their health at risk.

In Egypt, the match of fanatics is rife. While the players battle it out on the pitches, fanatics work hard to distinguish themselves at the end of the day. The most difficult time for this special brand of supporters is when their team is losing. They are shocked, disturbed and even cry. Fanatics are generally not prepared for defeat. To them, football should be synonymous to victory and victory alone.

[Tomanbay]

Thanks for the post...we in Egypt are really happy that all those fan(atics) are here!
If you want to see even more colors from the competition check this photo essay:

http://tomanbay.blogspot.com/2006/01/tb-goes-to-stadium.html

[orock Eta]

These pictures talk for themselves.They are extremely explicit, they portray Africa,keep up.