On 15 April, a book launch will be held in Amsterdam to celebrate the publication of Africa United: The road to Twenty Ten featuring photographs produced for the Twenty Ten project.

The World Cup kicks off on June 11 in South Africa, organized for the first time on the African continent. In Africa United: The road to Twenty Ten, African journalists will depict the role of football and its impact in Africa.

The book launch will be held on 15 April in the Amsterdam Arena. The first copy will be offered to football players Eyong Enoh and Maarten Stekelenburg, both playing for Ajax, who will become temporary opponents when the Netherlands plays Cameroon in Cape Town.

The book depicts a football-crazed continent on the road to the next World Cup. Filled with stories and images by African (photo)journalists showing the passion for football in Africa, it presents the continent in a way not often portrayed: filled with talent, ambition and possibilities. In addition to describing the love for football, this book also portrays the social role of football in Africa. Success in sport enhances the African dignity and pride. It unites peoples, even in times of war.

Africa United introduces us to football-crazed presidents, Haile Gebrselassie’s passion for the sport and also shows us the important role that Didier Drogba and George Weah have played in bringing peace to the Ivory Coast and Liberia. Naturally, star footballers Michael Essien and Salomon Kalou also have a say in this book.

The book has been compiled by Dutch journalists Stefan Verwer and Marc Broere, together with photographer Chris de Bode.

This book is part of the Twenty Ten project and was made possible with cooperation from KIT Publishers. After the launch of Africa United in the Amsterdam Arena, the book will be available through the KIT Publishers website.

Twenty Ten: African Media on the Road to 2010 (and beyond) is an initiative of World Press Photo, Free Voice, Africa Media Online and lokaalmondiaal. This project is made possible by financial support from the Dutch Postcode Lottery. World Press Photo and Free Voice receive annual support from the Dutch Postcode Lottery and its participants.