Form of boxing fights organized by the Amalaita migrant association, near Pretoria, South Africa

"Migrants living and working in the town attempted to protect themselves from the enticements of urban living by forming migrant associations which would police the behaviour of their fellows who were in danger of breaking ranks. One such migrant association was the amalaita, made up mainly of young men from the Northern Transvaal. The amalaita's main leisure pursuit was a form of boxing between rival regionally based factions, but it had a deeper purpose as well." [Bonner Ph., 1995: African Urbanisation on the Rand between the 1930s and 1960s: Its social Character and Political Consequences. Journal of Southern African Studies. Published by Taylor & Francis, Ltd]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Life magazine and traveled to Africa from August 18, 1959 to December 20, 1959.