Skip to content

Fire, fronds and flax: Africa's top shots

1 day ago

Natasha Booty

BBC News

A selection of the week's best photos from across the African continent and beyond:

This girl walks past a mural in Nigeria's biggest city, Lagos, on Monday.

SODIQ ADELAKUN / REUTERS A girl walks past a wall painting depicting schoolgirls reading books. It is a tribute to schoolgirls who were abducted from their homes in Chibok a decade ago. — This girl walks past a mural in Nigeria's biggest city, Lagos, on Monday.

On Wednesday, parts of Alexandra township in South Africa are adorned with art fashioned from found objects and rubbish. Some items, like the net, will be re-used to clear litter from a nearby river.

KIM LUDBROOK / EPA A woman sits in a room surrounded by photos and pieces of colourful quote cards. In front of her is a curtain made of turquoise netting. — On Wednesday, parts of Alexandra township in South Africa are adorned with art fashioned from found objects and rubbish. Some items, like the net, will be re-used to clear litter from a nearby river.

Crafting cattle from cardboard, The Hoard is a travelling show in Senegal that uses the power of puppetry to raise awareness of the climate crisis. Here they are on Friday preparing for a performance.

SEYLLOU / AFP Two men weave a life-sized animal from corrugated cardboard. The effect is surprisingly life-like. — Crafting cattle from cardboard, The Hoard is a travelling show in Senegal that uses the power of puppetry to raise awareness of the climate crisis. Here they are on Friday preparing for a performance.

Palm Sunday sees worshippers gather at the Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Lagos...

SODIQ ADELAKUN / REUTERS A girl smiles while listening to a sermon during a Palm Sunday mass. She is wearing a pink dress and wearing a crucifix necklace made from dried palm leaves. — Palm Sunday sees worshippers gather at the Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Lagos...

On the same day thousands of miles away in Lebanon, Ethiopian Orthodox Christians also mark Palm Sunday...

WAEL HAMZEH/EPA Woman wearing a crown made of palm leaves holds up three burning sticks. — On the same day thousands of miles away in Lebanon, Ethiopian Orthodox Christians also mark Palm Sunday...

There are similar scenes at the Legio Maria Church in Nairobi, Kenya. According to the Bible, it is the day when Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem, and marks the start of the Holy Week before Easter Sunday.

GERALD ANDERSON / GETTY IMAGES Children wear matching clerical gowns, in the same shade of mauve. — There are similar scenes at the Legio Maria Church in Nairobi, Kenya. According to the Bible, it is the day when Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem, and marks the start of the Holy Week before Easter Sunday.

On Tuesday in South Africa we see a reproduction of "Little Foot", one of the oldest and most complete skeletons of humankind's ancestors.

EMMANUEL CROSET / AFP A lifelike reproduction of a skeleton is laid out on black felt, with small explanatory notecards arranged near its head and shoulders. — On Tuesday in South Africa we see a reproduction of "Little Foot", one of the oldest and most complete skeletons of humankind's ancestors.

Pieces by Ghanaian artist Amoako Boafo grace the walls of London's Gagosian Gallery on Friday as part of his first UK solo exhibition.

BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP A woman dressed in a suit sands next to a portrait of woman dressed in a white blouse and black skirt. — Pieces by Ghanaian artist Amoako Boafo grace the walls of London's Gagosian Gallery on Friday as part of his first UK solo exhibition.

People gather in Morocco's southern reaches in the Sahara Desert for the Nomad Festival on Friday...

ABDEL MAJID BZIOUAT / AFP Women smile and chat. They are wearing Amazigh-style silver headchains as yellow beaded necklaces and yellow scarves on their heads. — People gather in Morocco's southern reaches in the Sahara Desert for the Nomad Festival on Friday...

The following day at the festival sees men compete in a hockey match.

ABDEL MAJID BZIOUAT / AFP Men dressed in blue boubous and matching headwraps compete for the ball using wooden sticks. — The following day at the festival sees men compete in a hockey match.

On the same day in Nairobi, talented artisans transform scrap metal into cars, robots and stoves at this workshop.

GERALD ANDERSON / GETTY IMAGES A man shields his eyes with glasses as he welds pieces of metal together. — On the same day in Nairobi, talented artisans transform scrap metal into cars, robots and stoves at this workshop.

Many Malians have been angered by Algeria's accusation that their forces shot down an Algerian army drone close to the border...

AFP A man holds two flags in his hands near the conference call - Russia's and Mali's. — Many Malians have been angered by Algeria's accusation that their forces shot down an Algerian army drone close to the border...

Here in the capital city of Bamako, on Sunday, people take part in a summit called by the National Youth Council of Mali. The banner in the background calls for an Africa that is united, not divided.

AFP People sit and stand in a conference hall, listening to events. — Here in the capital city of Bamako, on Sunday, people take part in a summit called by the National Youth Council of Mali. The banner in the background calls for an Africa that is united, not divided.

Protesters demand that South Africa declares a national disaster over the staggering rates of femicide and gender-based violence. Wearing a red veil is Khumo Maake, an activist who works for the Check Mate group which wants dating apps to perform mandatory ID checks on users for safety reasons.

MARCO LONGARI / AFP A woman wears a red veil over her head, as if in mourning. She is surrounded by protesters holding up cardboard placards. — Protesters demand that South Africa declares a national disaster over the staggering rates of femicide and gender-based violence. Wearing a red veil is Khumo Maake, an activist who works for the Check Mate group which wants dating apps to perform mandatory ID checks on users for safety reasons.

Precious artefacts held at Sudan's National Museum in Khartoum have been destroyed in the civil war. The city was held by RSF paramilitaries for almost two years, before the Sudanese army regained control in recent weeks...

AFP Stone walls, columns and glass roof panes are damaged. — Precious artefacts held at Sudan's National Museum in Khartoum have been destroyed in the civil war. The city was held by RSF paramilitaries for almost two years, before the Sudanese army regained control in recent weeks...

The vast Zamzam refugee camp, which was home to about half a million people, was torched by RSF paramilitaries in recent days. Tens of thousands of already destitute people have had to flee their makeshift homes, some collapsing from thirst and exhaustion after walking days on end...

MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES / REUTERS An aerial satellite image shows grey smoke and red fire in Zamzam camp. — The vast Zamzam refugee camp, which was home to about half a million people, was torched by RSF paramilitaries in recent days. Tens of thousands of already destitute people have had to flee their makeshift homes, some collapsing from thirst and exhaustion after walking days on end...

Fried crickets are among the meagre provisions available at the Touloum refugee camp in Chad on Friday. At least 13 million people have been forced from their homes in Sudan since the war began two years ago, says the UN.

JORIS BOLOMEY / AFP Fried crickets are piled on top of each other in a container. — Fried crickets are among the meagre provisions available at the Touloum refugee camp in Chad on Friday. At least 13 million people have been forced from their homes in Sudan since the war began two years ago, says the UN.

And on Monday in northern Egypt, farmer harvest flax. The versatile material is used to make banknotes, fabric and feed livestock.

MAHMOUD ELKHWAS / GETTY IMAGES A man holds long reeds while harvesting in a field. Above him the sky is a bright blue, with white clouds. — And on Monday in northern Egypt, farmer harvest flax. The versatile material is used to make banknotes, fabric and feed livestock.

More articles from the BBC in Africa:

Getty Images/BBC A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News Africa

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

BBC Africa podcasts

Africa Daily

Focus on Africa