Photograph overview
Pictured:
“Joao Gabriel's Ball, Chipanga, Mozambique, 2009.”
This image speaks quietly but powerfully to the spirit of AMEN. It focuses on one of the handmade footballs that became central to Jessica Hilltout’s project, showing how the game continues to exist with imagination, resourcefulness and devotion, even where proper equipment is scarce.
Photographed in Chipanga, Mozambique, the work reflects the deep connection between football and everyday life across the African continent. In AMEN, football is not shown only as a professional sport or global spectacle. It is shown as something lived and made by hand, shaped by local materials, open spaces and the determination of those who play.
The ball itself becomes more than an object. It carries the marks of use, repair and invention, speaking to the passion of young players and communities who continue to make the game their own. Hilltout’s photograph gives attention to this detail with care, allowing a simple object to represent a much wider story of play, resilience and belief.
Collecting work from Jessica Hilltout’s AMEN series offers a meaningful connection to one of the most celebrated photographic projects on grassroots football in Africa. The series is known for its warmth, honesty and visual strength, documenting a rarely seen side of the game with respect and close observation.
For collectors, these prints hold both photographic and cultural value. They form part of a larger body of work that records football as a shared language across communities, where passion often exists despite limited resources. Each print carries the energy of the project while standing as an individual image, grounded in trust, observation and a deep respect for the people and places photographed.
Series:
AMEN | Grassroots Football
Important Notes:
Please note that each image has a white border.
Framing options available.
International shipping available.
7 - 10 working days for print and delivery.
Jessica Hilltout | Joao Gabriel’s Ball, Chipanga, Mozambique, 2009.
Joao Gabriel’s Ball, 2009, by Jessica Hilltout, from the AMEN series.
Photographed in Chipanga, Mozambique, this limited-edition fine art print focuses on a handmade football, reflecting the resourcefulness, devotion and everyday passion that shape grassroots football across Africa.
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