Game of Confidence

Certain professions have traditionally been deemed unsuitable for women based on cultural expectations of femininity. Across Nigeria, where gender has long dictated the boundaries of possibility, women are stepping into roles historically reserved for men. The professional athlete is one such case.

Taiwo Aina-Adeokun’s photo series “Game of Confidence” showcases female boxers in Lagos, Nigeria—women who in- habit a sport still strongly associated with masculinity and physical dominance. Whether it is a couple of punching bags and tires hanging in a dusty lot in the Bariga district, or a ring tucked within a 9-story building on Victoria Island, these work envi- ronments are training grounds for discipline and confidence.

As a Nigerian photographer herself working within a field once dominated by men, Aina’s own experiences resemble her subjects’. “In my part of the world, photography was majorly practiced by men and taking on the profession, I get queries from different people, some strangers, about the motive behind my choice of career. Some ask why I do not consider more ‘feminine vocations.’”

For the women in this series, boxing is not merely about combat. It is a means of self-discovery, healing and empowerment. Some pursue competitive excellence on the national stages, while others are drawn to the sport by a desire to build strength.