- Home
- News & Blogs
- About Us
- What We Do
- Our Communities
- Info Centre
- Press
- Contact
- Archive 2019
- 2015 Elections: 11 new BME MP’s make history
- 70th Anniversary of the Partition of India
- Black Church Manifesto Questionnaire
- Brett Bailey: Exhibit B
- Briefing Paper: Ethnic Minorities in Politics and Public Life
- Civil Rights Leader Ratna Lachman dies
- ELLE Magazine: Young, Gifted, and Black
- External Jobs
- FeaturedVideo
- FeaturedVideo
- FeaturedVideo
- Gary Younge Book Sale
- George Osborne's budget increases racial disadvantage
- Goldsmiths Students' Union External Trustee
- International Commissioners condemn the appalling murder of Tyre Nichols
- Iqbal Wahhab OBE empowers Togo prisoners
- Job Vacancy: Head of Campaigns and Communications
- Media and Public Relations Officer for Jean Lambert MEP (full-time)
- Number 10 statement - race disparity unit
- Pathway to Success 2022
- Please donate £10 or more
- Rashan Charles had no Illegal Drugs
- Serena Williams: Black women should demand equal pay
- Thank you for your donation
- The Colour of Power 2021
- The Power of Poetry
- The UK election voter registration countdown begins now
- Volunteering roles at Community Alliance Lewisham (CAL)
Human Trafficking of African footballers
The issue of human trafficking of African footballers into Europe is the focus of a film which will be screened at a festival next week.
Soka Afrika documents the lives of two young African men, one from South Africa, the other from Cameroon, who take different path in pursuit of their dreams of becoming professional footballers. The story that unfolds reveals the struggle that is life in much of Africa and demonstrates how football is a vital lifeline to which many desperately cling.
South African Kermit manages to live the dream, signing a contract with top Dutch team Feyenoord while Ndomo is trafficked into France as a teenager by people who promise plenty but in the ends up being abandoned on the streets.
Ndomo is picked up by Culture Foot Solidaire, an NGO set up by former Cameroon international Jean Claude Mbvoumin who enjoyed a relatively successful career in France but wanted to address the plight of young Africans trafficked to Europe intent on pursuing a career in the game.
The contrasting stories of Kermit and Ndomo reflects the plight of countless hundreds of Africans who are on the pursuit for the riches and glamour of professional football as well as those looking to exploit their dreams.
Speaking about the serious issue of football trafficking, chairman of Kick It Out Lord Herman Ouseley said,
“Football trafficking is a serious issue which not many people are aware of. Whilst we all enjoy watching high-profile matches involving some of Africa’s biggest football stars, there are matters such as this which are an underlying problem. This screening of Soka Afrika is the perfect opportunity to educate people on the topic.”
Soka Afrika will be shown as part of the Kicking and Screening football film festival which takes place between 23-29 September. The film will be on at Everyman Cinema in Belsize Park on Wednesday 28 September.
To find out more about Soka Afrika, please click here.