From unending droughts to calamitous floods and locust outbreaks, the climate crisis is already being felt across Africa.
But with its vast natural wealth and growing young population, the continent is in a prime position to forge a greener future for itself – and show the rest of humanity how it’s done.
Next week, the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) will gather thousands of people online and in Nairobi, Kenya, to discover how Africa can protect its landscapes and the millions of livelihoods that they sustain.
Ahead of GLF Africa 2024: Greening the African Horizon, we asked photographers from all over the continent and beyond to show us what that could look like.
In their own words, here are the three winners of the GLF Africa 2024 Photography Awards, selected from over 600 entries and chosen by a panel of judges and the GLF’s online followers.
Taken in Ngubin, a village on the Mambilla Plateau in eastern Nigeria’s Taraba State, the winning entry depicts two young girls playing a popular local children’s game.
“Ngubin is a small village on the way to Chappal Waddi, the highest peak in west Africa,” photographer Shaibu Hamza Olobo tells us.
“I was on a journey to reach that peak when I made an unplanned stop in this village. I spent two weeks here in the house of their village headmaster, who accommodated me and took care of me with kindness and love.”
The girls in the photo lived near the headmaster and would always return together from their local farm, Olobo recalls.
“I took this picture and many more like it to tell an authentic African story, and to help people all over the world experience and appreciate the magic that goes on in these little-known communities that are tucked so far away that many people may never see them,” he says.
“It tells a story of happiness, of joy, and in the blending of their smiles with the radiant sunset, it shows how man compliments nature and vice versa. Beyond just winning a prize, I hope this picture inspires you as well.”
See more of Olobo’s work on Instagram.
Just north of Benin’s largest city, Cotonou, lies Lake Nokoué, a large lagoon home to at least 78 fish species and thousands of people who depend on them for their livelihoods.
Many of these people live in ‘floating’ houses built on stilts in the middle of the lake, making them a growing tourist attraction.
It’s here, in Ganvie – a town dubbed the ‘Venice of Africa’ – that our second-placed entry was shot, depicting a fisherman handling a net while his wife and daughter sort their catch and prepare them for sale.
“I think it captures the connection of the community to the lake,” says photographer Samuel Ogundeyi. “It also shows us the survival and livelihood of the people and how it is dependent on the lake’s resources.
Founded by the Tofinu people as they fled from slavery, Ganvie has around 30,000 inhabitants today, most of whom earn their living through fishing.
“I took this photo to spotlight the beauty of life in Ganvie and highlight the community’s relationship with water,” Ogundeyi recalls.
“I hoped to capture a moment that resonates with viewers, sparking a deeper appreciation for traditional ways of life and perhaps even prompting conversations around preserving such unique cultures in the face of modern challenges.”
See more of Ogundeyi’s work on Instagram.
We return to Nigeria for the entry that you, our readers and followers, voted for.
“This photograph shows a farmer proudly standing in his field, holding up some freshly harvested corn,” photographer Moshood Farhan Jimba explains.
“The lush, green landscape behind him depicts Africa’s natural beauty, while his traditional clothes and proud stance reflect his deep connection to the land. This image isn’t just about agriculture, but about the resilience and strength of a man whose livelihood is deeply connected with the earth he cultivates, hence the title.”
Jimba snapped this shot in Asa, Kwara State, located in western Nigeria, at the heart of a unique ecoregion: the Guinean forest–savanna mosaic, where forest, savanna and grasslands are interlaced across most of West Africa.
Kwara State is primarily agricultural, with coffee, cotton, cocoa, oil palm and kola nut among its key cash crops. It’s also home to many smallholders living off the land.
“This photo was taken to show how crucial small-scale farmers are in ensuring food security and protecting our environment,” says Jimba.
“I hope that it reminds people to support local agriculture and sustainable practices because these farmers play a key role in preserving our planet and our traditions.”
With so many incredible submissions from across the continent, we couldn’t leave you with just these three West African gems. So, here are seven more photos showcasing the diversity of Africa’s landscapes and livelihoods.
This striking photograph, captured in the Western Usambara Mountains of Tanzania, juxtaposes human and avian flight against a backdrop of silhouetted trees.
“The Western Usambara Mountains, known for their rich biodiversity, are an ecosystem under pressure from climate change,” says photographer Rashid Edward Kalata. “The leap of the child can be seen as a metaphor for the resilience and adaptability required to overcome these environmental challenges.”
“The bird, flying freely beside the child, represents the fragile ecosystems that depend on a stable climate. The connection between the two figures in the air suggests a shared destiny, reminding us that human actions are intertwined with the health of our natural world.”
This photograph shows a herd of giraffes gathered at a waterhole in Etosha National Park, Namibia, at sunset.
Taken in Egypt, this photograph shows a little girl sitting beside her mother in a field of chamomile flowers, helping her with the harvest and learning from her.
A fisher can’t hide his glee after catching this massive fish off São Tomé Island, the largest island in São Tomé and Príncipe.
This image of mothers winnowing grains was taken in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
“Through a winnow of resilience, African mothers sift strength from struggle and nurture hope with every grain,” says photographer Wisdom Ezechi.
This image shows the small island of Gunner’s Quoin, seen from the north coast of Mauritius’ main island.
Taken in South Africa, this photograph shows a family of elephants crossing a track used by vehicles.
“The male stops and looks at our car,” recalls photographer Isabelle Billien. “He doesn’t move, just moves one paw to the side. Behind him, the baby elephants hurry, supervised by the mothers.
“The family heads towards the watering hole. The scene freezes in a moment of eternity.”
Quotes have been edited for length and clarity.
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