UNTITLED - Amani Abdallah
Narratio introduces the photography of Amani Lilahi Abdallah, Colorado, United States.
Amani documents the life around him, capturing the moment’s emotion while embedding them with his own lingering memories of Tanzania and youthhood. Amani desires to discover more layers of the world through his viewfinder and one day use the camera to “shine a light on the refugees that need to be heard”.
I do like to write although I wouldn't call it poetry nor is it my strongest suit.
However, I thought I'd share this little piece as it touches on a little aspect of what I liked to do when I was young and the joy I got from playing soccer.
When I sit through my archives, many of the photographs I've taken include a soccer ball.
And each photograph taken was not taken but it brought me joy.
I remember being a child who knew nothing about the world. And the closest encounter was of me laying on my father’s lap listening to the ongoing conflict happening.
We had no smartphones nor TV. I was simply a child who played all day long in the street, dirty face and feet, ripped shirt and jeans, skipping ropes, and singing songs.
This will last all summer long.
We played a soccer ball wrapped in grocery bags. And we would make our own bikes and scooters from wood.
Remembering the days no money about, bear-foot all us kids just played out. We would sit by the fire and listen to the tales being told.
And later slept like a log without a doubt on the UNHCR tents.
These were the days...These were the days I'd return given the chance.
