Gomuta is a personal project by Amsterdam based photographer Yeray Sabandar, centered around the traditional sport of Jai Alai. It encapsulates the values of friendship, passion, and memories, striving to…

Gomuta is a personal project by Amsterdam based photographer Yeray Sabandar, centered around the traditional sport of Jai Alai. It encapsulates the values of friendship, passion, and memories, striving to preserve the sport and its culture.

“Gomuta” is a photography project documenting a group of Basque teenagers who are determined to keep the world of Jai Alai alive. Jai Alai is a traditional Basque ball game that was popular for centuries but lost its fame after the 80s. Two players bounce a ball off a walled-in space by accelerating it to high speeds with a handheld wicker cesta. This series captures a small group of people who have dedicated their lives to upholding the legacy of this forgotten sport. Their perseverance symbolizes that of the Basque culture that, just like Jai Alai, has faced endangerment throughout history but despite civil wars and dictatorship has managed to survive.   

Inspired by my childhood memories of playing ballgames in my grandparents village with my friends, Gomuta, which means memory, represents my attempt to preserve this sport and prevent it from becoming a memory.