African women and sport: the state of play

This discussion of the ‘state of play’ of writing on sports in Africa gives particular emphasis to the study of female athletes across the continent. It highlights the rich seam of work that has been forthcoming about athletics in southern Africa as well as conceptual frameworks that have been used to good effect. Empirical historical material is introduced to demonstrate, following Bourdieu, how far sport requires management of the body, which is ‘central to the acquisition of status’.