When Arsenal announced and presented their new dark kit, everyone immediately thought of Africa. And for a good reason: the beautiful black jersey was, in fact, inspired by Africa and Arsenal’s relationship with the people from this continent. Subsequently, the jersey was designed by an immigrant, Foday Dumbuya, who was born in Sierra Leone and moved to London at the age of 12.The jersey itself is almost entirely black, with several green and red details. According to the creator, these features are supposed to represent the Pan-African flag (coloured black, green, and red), while the specific black and white zigzag pattern reminds of the 1920s African emigrants’ flow.Fresh threads 😮💨Shop our new away kit on Arsenal Direct now 🛍️— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 18, 2024 Arsenal’s connection to the people of Africa is strong. Numerous players from this continent have worn the Gunners’ jersey, while the club’s fanbase in the Mother Continent is immense. Speaking to The Athletic, Dumbuya himself recalled some renowned names that will be remembered in Arsenal’s history, stating that this jersey should educate and that no other club could proudly wear it and represent Black culture better than the Gunners.”With Arsenal, they have a huge African fanbase. From when (Nwankwo) Kanu, (Emmanuel) Eboue, Kolo Toure and all those guys used to play for Arsenal; I think African fans gravitate to that because they can see themselves in those players. I don’t know if another club would have done this, how it would transcend to those African fans, because they might not have a huge African fanbase. I welcome the shirt and I celebrate the shirt because I know that is something that’s only possible through the optics and lens of Arsenal, and no one else. Sometimes, you educate yourself by seeing something and you don’t have a clue about what it means, but now you’re prompted to go and investigate it. People talk about Pan-Africanism. Now it’s in your face,” Dumbuya said.Here’s the away kit you ordered 🎁— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 18, 2024 He additionally stated that, just like numerous African heroes who represented Arsenal, the jersey should only nurture the unique and distinct relationship between the North London club and the Mother Continent, which had already existed. Apart from that, its other mission is to bring the African diaspora back to their roots.”I think the best way that I can describe this in a broad way is that the Black Africa shirt attempts to capture and materialise what is already in existence or has already been expressed. They’re not creating Black Africa. The Arsenal connection already exists. Here is something that is now able to be distributed and shared. I want people always to remember the first club that actually celebrated their fanbase outside of their territory and also included everything about that particular territory, which is Africa as a whole. It hasn’t been done before. The players that came from abroad have actually changed this league and have added so much depth and culture, so when people sort of remember the kit, I’m hoping that’s what they remember — that it was a celebration of those past players and the Arsenal African fanbase,” Dumbuya finished.Behind-the-scenes of our 24/25 @adidasFootball x @labrumlondon away kit shoot 🎬 pic.twitter.com/zubq8Ea6SJ— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 19, 2024 Clive Chijioke Nwonka, associate professor of film, culture and society at University College London, who’s currently writing a book on Arsenal’s connection to the Black community in Britain, also spoke of this innovative jersey. Although he is not a Gunners fan, he couldn’t deny the strong bond between the club and Africa.”I’m not an Arsenal fan per se, but I’m certainly one in the sense that I’m a Londoner and to be involved in Black identity and Black people, you have some affiliation with Arsenal at some level, be it in the playground, in the cultural spaces like the churches and the barber shop. This is a shirt that attempts to celebrate what has been largely recognised, which is a movement towards Arsenal by people of the Black diaspora over a number of years,” claimed Nwonka.Things heating up in London: Arsenal child to move into a CottageIn addition, he highlighted the importance of black people’s involvement in creating products that are supposed to be related to African culture.”I think when we are talking about and describing Black culture, and Black culture production, we must also just be cognisant that what is really important is Black people and Black people’s experiences of that, which often sometimes is lost when we begin talking about brand culture. That being said, I am relieved that the final design was done using a Black designer, because that hasn’t always been the case,” Nwonka concluded.##NAJAVA_MECA_8233403##Finally, this jersey will unite people. Regardless of their home country, ethnicity, religion, or any other feature that separates us on a daily basis, Arsenal fans will wear it and respect the root of its existence – Africa. Subsequently, it will just strengthen the bond between African people and not only Arsenal but football as a game, providing some new players from this magnificent continent who will succeed Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Sadio Mane, Yaya Toure, and all the other African legends, who left an indelible mark in the world of football.
