Danish photographer Mads Nissen captured a poignant image of nine-year-old Didiller Angulo clowning around on a basketball court in Potrero Grande, a neighbourhood in Cali, Colombia, that serves as a key corridor for cocaine trafficking. The photograph, taken in 2017, is part of Nissen's book Sangre Blanca: The Lost War on Cocaine, which examines the full chain of the cocaine business—from farmers and labourers to gangsters and cartel members.
The Story Behind the Photograph
Nissen first became fascinated with Colombia while studying Spanish and volunteering in Venezuela at age 19. He later travelled to Colombia for a project on the Amazon rainforest and, in 2016, was commissioned by the Nobel Peace Center to cover the final stages of the peace process. However, he felt he could not address the country's turmoil and inequality without examining its cocaine production.
“I didn’t want to produce more work blaming or stigmatising the country,” Nissen said. “I wanted to look at the entire chain of the cocaine business, which meant talking to and photographing farmers who grow the coca, labourers who harvest it, those who run the labs that process the leaves – and the police, soldiers, gangsters and cartel members embroiled in the ongoing hostilities.”
Life in Potrero Grande
Potrero Grande is described as one of the most complicated neighbourhoods in Colombia, a suburb of Cali where major roads and the Cauca River converge, making it a vital corridor for cocaine movement. Nissen was speaking with a young woman selling small amounts of cocaine when he noticed Didiller playing nearby. “As you can see, it was late in the evening, and I couldn’t help thinking he should be at home getting ready for school the next day,” Nissen recalled.
In such areas, many households lack fathers or healthy male figures. Young boys often look up to gang leaders as role models. “When I speak to these kids, their only plan to create a route for themselves out of poverty is to become a professional football player, which concerns me,” Nissen said. “What are the chances of someone like Didiller achieving that? If it doesn’t happen, what is he going to do? Obviously the gangs offer a different dream – enough money to give to your family and live the life you see on your phone.”
The Fate of Didiller Angulo
Years after taking the photograph, Nissen returned to Potrero Grande and asked about Didiller. “I couldn’t find him. Someone told me he had been killed, though I cannot confirm it,” Nissen said. Despite the danger, Nissen emphasised that everyday life continued in the neighbourhood. “That’s the sense I wanted to give here.”
For many people involved in the cocaine trade, it is simply a means of survival. Some spoke to Nissen at personal risk. In contrast, he noted that in Europe—the main consumer of cocaine—people are reluctant to be photographed. “People will happily talk about how common cocaine use is, not only at parties but in daily life. Then, when it comes to taking a picture, the conversation completely closes down.”
About the Photographer
Mads Nissen, born in Denmark in 1979, has won the main prize at World Press Photo three times and POY International’s Photographer of the Year. He says the most memorable moments happen “on the ground, with people who chose to trust me with their grief, fear, love or vulnerability.” His top tip for photographers: “Empathy, closeness, intimacy. That is what really matters. The best photography isn’t just about seeing. It’s about feeling.”
