A photo of Brazilian star Vinicius Junior celebrating a goal with his fist raised in the air was placed near the entrance of an art exhibition, alongside a painting of a woman suspended in mid-air heading a football.
A replica of the World Cup trophy sat inside a glass case nearby, surrounded by photographs, paintings, and flags documenting generations of African football dreams and stories — all part of an exhibition celebrating Africa's deep connection with football during the World Cup.
"This is the essence of art — art has always been a platform for promoting peace, understanding, and giving voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. This is the essential role we feel compelled to play at Africaine," said Alfonso Brooks, founder of Africaine, an organisation dedicated to showcasing African and diaspora arts.
Brooks, a veteran sound engineer turned art curator, spent around six months preparing the exhibition "Art and the Beautiful Game: Africa on the World Stage," which opened in Miami ahead of the start of the World Cup. The exhibition features works by more than 50 artists from 25 countries, exploring football's role in the continent's history while celebrating some of the most influential figures in the game, from the late Pelé to French star Kylian Mbappé.
All 10 African nations competing in the World Cup are represented and celebrated in the exhibition, with special recognition given to Cape Verde. The small island nation off the west coast of Africa produced one of the tournament's most remarkable surprises by drawing with Spain in their opening World Cup match. The Africaine team plans to hold a tribute event for Cape Verde on Saturday evening ahead of their group-stage match against Uruguay in Miami on Sunday. As tens of thousands of fans pour into Miami for the World Cup, Brooks and the participating artists were keen to provide a space for the African community to gather and celebrate its culture throughout the tournament.