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Amazigh New Year and vodún cheer: Africa's top shots

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

On Monday, 31-year-old Ange Gnacadja rests on cotton harvested in Soclogbo, Benin.

OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT / AFP A man smiles and lies on top of a huge mound of fluffy, picked cotton. — On Monday, 31-year-old Ange Gnacadja rests on cotton harvested in Soclogbo, Benin.

It's time for the Egyptian Marathon on Saturday in Luxor.

KHALED DESOUKI / AFP People in running gear and with numbers attached to their chests jog on a road. Hot-air balloons rise in the background. — It's time for the Egyptian Marathon on Saturday in Luxor.

The next day in Tunisia's capital city Tunis, dancers compete at the Juste Debout international contest.

FETHI BELAID / AFP A man dressed in loose clothing shows off his moves while others watch seated. — The next day in Tunisia's capital city Tunis, dancers compete at the Juste Debout international contest.

This diver in Cape Town throws shapes on a hot Saturday in South Africa.

ESA ALEXANDER / REUTERS A person dives from a springboard during a hot summer day at Sea Point swimming pool in Cape Town, South Africa, January 10, 2025. — This diver in Cape Town throws shapes on a hot Saturday in South Africa.

Monday marks the start of the year 2975 for members of north Africa's Amazigh communities...

ABDEL MAJID BZIOUAT / AFP A woman wearing a tasselled red, green and yellow headdress smiles. — Monday marks the start of the year 2975 for members of north Africa's Amazigh communities...

Celebrations in the Moroccan capital of Rabat include fashion shows and musical performances.

JALAL MORCHIDI / EPA Women play tambourines and sing. — Celebrations in the Moroccan capital of Rabat include fashion shows and musical performances.

Earthquakes in the north of Ethiopia leave huge cracks in the road, causing this man trouble as he transports goods on Sunday.

AMANUEL SILESHI / AFP A man rides a motorbike along a road that is scarred with huge cracks across it. — Earthquakes in the north of Ethiopia leave huge cracks in the road, causing this man trouble as he transports goods on Sunday.

Renowned chef Georgiana Viou - pictured on Sunday - trades a Michelin-starred restaurant in France for her new venture in Benin, called Restaurant L'Ami.

MARCO LONGARI / AFP A women dressed in a trilby, shirt and chef's waistcoat smiles infront of luxurious wallpaper and lighting. — Renowned chef Georgiana Viou - pictured on Sunday - trades a Michelin-starred restaurant in France for her new venture in Benin, called Restaurant L'Ami.

Also in Benin days earlier, Vodún worshippers approach the palace of King Kpodégbé Lanmanfan Toyi Djigla...

OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT / AFP People wearing matching clothing sing and dance in procession. Behind them is a pink wall which is painted with symbols in turquoise and black. — Also in Benin days earlier, Vodún worshippers approach the palace of King Kpodégbé Lanmanfan Toyi Djigla...

Swirling zangbetos in an array of colours are a familiar part of Vodún festivals...

MARCO LONGARI / AFP A person dances in circles wearing a huge swirling costume of long purple tassels, — Swirling zangbetos in an array of colours are a familiar part of Vodún festivals...

Meanwhile this Vodún worshipper pauses for a portrait at the Mami Wata Temple in Ouidah.

MARCO LONGARI / AFP A man dressed in white poses for a portrait in a darkened room. — Meanwhile this Vodún worshipper pauses for a portrait at the Mami Wata Temple in Ouidah.

Outraged South Africans say the government has blood on its hands after waiting months to extract miners who have been trapped underground since November. Some are comparing the scandal to the Marikana mine massacre of 2012...

LEON SADIKI / GETTY IMAGES A woman pickets the mine in Stilfontein with a sign that reads: '"Stilfontein is the next Marikana". — Outraged South Africans say the government has blood on its hands after waiting months to extract miners who have been trapped underground since November. Some are comparing the scandal to the Marikana mine massacre of 2012...

Left without food and supplies for weeks on end, many of the survivors were emaciated and had to be stretchered away from the site because they were too weak to walk.

KIM LUDBROOK/EPA A man in tattered clothing is stretchered away. — Left without food and supplies for weeks on end, many of the survivors were emaciated and had to be stretchered away from the site because they were too weak to walk.

This boy and the many people and families around him are among more than 100,000 people who have fled their homes in Masisi, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in the past week alone because of deadly violence between M23 rebels and the army. Despite the cost of human misery, minerals from here are found in smartphones sold the world over.

JOSPIN MWISHA / AFP People stand crowded into a darkened makeshift home. They have very few belongings. Many are children. — This boy and the many people and families around him are among more than 100,000 people who have fled their homes in Masisi, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in the past week alone because of deadly violence between M23 rebels and the army. Despite the cost of human misery, minerals from here are found in smartphones sold the world over.

Slick choreography for the inauguration of Mozambique's new president, Daniel Chapo, includes the handing out of refreshments featuring his portrait...

PHILL MAGAKOE / AFP A general view of water bottles with stickers on of Mozambique President-elect Daniel Chapo. — Slick choreography for the inauguration of Mozambique's new president, Daniel Chapo, includes the handing out of refreshments featuring his portrait...

And on the same day, protesters against the election, who do not recognise Chapo as the rightful president, make their voices heard.

ESTEVAO CHAVISSO / EPA A woman draped in the Mozambique flag squares up to a line of armed policemen and shouts slogans near the Independence Square during the inauguration of Mozambique's fifth president, Daniel Chapo, in Maputo. — And on the same day, protesters against the election, who do not recognise Chapo as the rightful president, make their voices heard.

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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