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Shades, sparks and snow: Africa's top shots

4 hours ago

Natasha Booty

BBC News

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

Shukri Osman Muse, 25, gets ready to ride her horse in Somalia's capital city Mogadishu on Friday. She believes she is the "first female equestrian" in the country, and says it "was a dream of mine for many years".

HASSAN ALI ELMI / AFP Woman wearing sunglasses and Islamic dress - including an abaya and niqab - gets ready to mount her chestnut-coloured horse. — Shukri Osman Muse, 25, gets ready to ride her horse in Somalia's capital city Mogadishu on Friday. She believes she is the "first female equestrian" in the country, and says it "was a dream of mine for many years".

The next day, Kenya's Sabrina Simader slaloms down the slopes at the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup in Italy.

ANDREA SOLERO / EPA A woman dressed in red skiiing gear skis down a steep, snow-covered slope. — The next day, Kenya's Sabrina Simader slaloms down the slopes at the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup in Italy.

In Senegal's capital Dakar the following day, wrestlers compete in the country's specific form of the sport - known as laamb.

CEM OZDEL / GETTY IMAGES Two muscular men dressed in shorts attempt to pull each other to the ground to win the game. — In Senegal's capital Dakar the following day, wrestlers compete in the country's specific form of the sport - known as laamb.

Tunisian tennis ace Ons Jabeur is bested by this shot from her American opponent Emma Navarro at the Australian Open on Saturday.

YUICHI YAMAZAKI / AFP Tunisia's Ons Jabeur throws her racket as she reaches for a shot against USA's Emma Navarro during their women's singles match. — Tunisian tennis ace Ons Jabeur is bested by this shot from her American opponent Emma Navarro at the Australian Open on Saturday.

On the same day in Cairo, Egypt, lanterns go on sale ahead of Ramadan.

DOAA ADEL / GETTY IMAGES A boy stands next to lanterns and smiles. Either side of him are curtains printed with colourful cartoons. — On the same day in Cairo, Egypt, lanterns go on sale ahead of Ramadan.

On Sunday in Addis Ababa, high priests gather to pray during the celebration of Ethiopian Orthodox Epiphany, called Timkat...

AMANUEL SILESHI / AFP Clergy wear embroidered robes and carry large, ornate crucifixes. — On Sunday in Addis Ababa, high priests gather to pray during the celebration of Ethiopian Orthodox Epiphany, called Timkat...

Timkat marks the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan and is one of the most important religious festivals for Christians in the East African country. Here, Ethiopians living in the US city of Washington DC relish the festivities.

AMID FARAHI / AFP People smile as they are doused with water by clergy at an Ethiopian Orthodox Cathedral. — Timkat marks the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan and is one of the most important religious festivals for Christians in the East African country. Here, Ethiopians living in the US city of Washington DC relish the festivities.

Children read by candlelight on Friday in Mathare, an informal settlement in Kenya's capital, Nairobi.

GERALD ANDERSON / GETTY IMAGES A young woman sits with a child and an infant at a table, reading from a school exercise book. — Children read by candlelight on Friday in Mathare, an informal settlement in Kenya's capital, Nairobi.

Also on Friday, Congolese models pose for a photoshoot in the southern city of Lubumbashi.

FRANCO ORIGLIA / GETTY IMAGES Young men and women sit informally at an outside table with beers. — Also on Friday, Congolese models pose for a photoshoot in the southern city of Lubumbashi.

Also on Friday, a woman walks past this mural in Nigeria's biggest city, Lagos.

TAIWO ARIFAYAN / REUTERS A woman walks near a wall mural that reads 'creative'. The word 'chaotic' is written above it but has been crossed out. — Also on Friday, a woman walks past this mural in Nigeria's biggest city, Lagos.

A hornbill enjoys a grub in Bela Bela, South Africa, on Thursday.

JOHAN RYNNERS / GETTY IMAGES A bird stands on a rock, holding an insect in its bill. — A hornbill enjoys a grub in Bela Bela, South Africa, on Thursday.

Days earlier in the South African town of Magaliesburg, members of the Immaculate Conception Guild pose next to a statue of the Virgin Mary at the Mother of Mercy Shrine...

MARCO LONGARI / AFP Women dressed in matching blue clothing stand close to a stone statue. — Days earlier in the South African town of Magaliesburg, members of the Immaculate Conception Guild pose next to a statue of the Virgin Mary at the Mother of Mercy Shrine...

People are gathered there on Saturday for the blessing of the statue and to perform the Stations of the Cross - a series of prayers following in the footsteps of Jesus.

MARCO LONGARI / AFP Men dressed in matching dark suits and red tie wait in seats. Above them are depictions of the stations of the cross. — People are gathered there on Saturday for the blessing of the statue and to perform the Stations of the Cross - a series of prayers following in the footsteps of Jesus.

On Wednesday, men who have migrated from South Sudan huddle around a fire during cold temperatures in northern France.

SAMEER AL-DOUMY / AFP South Sudanese migrants gather around a fire to warm up under a tent at a makeshift camp. — On Wednesday, men who have migrated from South Sudan huddle around a fire during cold temperatures in northern France.

In Senegal on Friday, Bineta Dieng shows a photo of her 19-year-old daughter Maimouna, who left for Spain on a boat with dozens of other people two years ago, which later disappeared. "Nobody has been recovered," she says.

JEROME FAVRE / EPA A grieving woman holds up a smartphone, showing a photo of her daughter smiling and dressed in pink. — In Senegal on Friday, Bineta Dieng shows a photo of her 19-year-old daughter Maimouna, who left for Spain on a boat with dozens of other people two years ago, which later disappeared. "Nobody has been recovered," she says.

On Saturday in the British capital, London, a woman draws attention to the plight of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, during a protest against Israel's war in Gaza.

ISABEL INFANTES / REUTERS "Hands off Congo" reads the sign being waved by a protester. — On Saturday in the British capital, London, a woman draws attention to the plight of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, during a protest against Israel's war in Gaza.

An artist reimagines the Last Supper on a pair of Nike trainers in Tunisia on Thursday. Kenenti workshop in the capital, Tunis, restores old shoes and handbags to create something new.

MOHAMED MESSARA / EPA A pair of Nike trainers are seen with a depiction of the Last Supper. — An artist reimagines the Last Supper on a pair of Nike trainers in Tunisia on Thursday. Kenenti workshop in the capital, Tunis, restores old shoes and handbags to create something new.

A Masai man lights kindling for a fire in Arusha, Tanzania, on Thursday.

MEHMET ASLAN / GETTY IMAGES A man dressed in patterned blue clothing lights kindling and blows on it to accelerate the flame. — A Masai man lights kindling for a fire in Arusha, Tanzania, on Thursday.

People take a stroll in Morocco's Atlas Mountains on Sunday.

ABDEL MAJID BZIOUAT / AFP People take a stroll in the snow by Lake Sidi Ali. All of the landscape is covered in snow. — People take a stroll in Morocco's Atlas Mountains on Sunday.

And on Friday, girls carry basins of water in Togo's capital, Lomé.

YANICK FOLLY / AFP Four girls walk in line past a church. Each carries a large bowl of water on her head. — And on Friday, girls carry basins of water in Togo's capital, Lomé.

From the BBC in Africa this week:

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

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