Almost a Ritual

A detail many would ignore, a sprout tucked into a sock, now part of the body. It captures a local intimacy, youth culture, and the quiet poetry hidden in play. The title speaks to how the things we repeat, like Sunday football, slowly become sacred without us realizing it. This was taken during Sunday football, fondly called Gattuso in the south, at Kolapo Ishola Estate in Ibadan. Every week, people from nearby areas gather to play, laugh, and reconnect. It reminded me of Ede, where Sunday football was never just a game but a reunion. We looked forward to it all week, knowing we’d see old friends home for the weekend from school or work. It’s funny how something so ordinary can hold so much memory, the laughter, the dust, the sunset, and the feeling of being exactly where you belong.

Uploaded on 20 October 2025.