Skip to content

Stars, stitches and stripes: Africa's top shots

11 hours ago

Natasha Booty

BBC News

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

Wall art criticising the effects of cobalt mining is seen in Senegal's capital city on Thursday. Apple, Google and others deny using cobalt mined by child labour.

CEM OZDEL / ANADOLU / GETTY IMAGES A painting on a wall shows a woman standing in front of a Congolese flag. She is depicted holding a sign that reads "the poisonous apple is killing our children" and "get away from our cobalt". — Wall art criticising the effects of cobalt mining is seen in Senegal's capital city on Thursday. Apple, Google and others deny using cobalt mined by child labour.

Another mural at the same site reads "nobody is free until we all are free" and shows the flags of Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Palestinian territories.

CEM OZDEL / ANADOLU / GETTY IMAGES Men walk past a mural depicting people with the flags of Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Palestinian territories. — Another mural at the same site reads "nobody is free until we all are free" and shows the flags of Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Palestinian territories.

On Sunday, cast members perform at the opening night of Sarafina The Musical in Johannesburg, South Africa.

OUPA BOPAPE / GALLO IMAGES / GETTY IMAGES Women dressed in red and blue dance in unison on stage. — On Sunday, cast members perform at the opening night of Sarafina The Musical in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The next day, this girl reads the letter of the alphabet at her primary school in Zanzibar.

NESE ARI / ANADOLU / GETTY IMAGES A girl reads aloud pointing at the letter on the the wall using a stick. — The next day, this girl reads the letter of the alphabet at her primary school in Zanzibar.

On Tuesday in Ivory Coast, a tailor handles embroidered fabric at his workshop.

ISSOUF SANOGO / AFP / GETTY IMAGES A man cuts around the outside of a colourful motif stitched in threads of multiple colours. — On Tuesday in Ivory Coast, a tailor handles embroidered fabric at his workshop.

The following day in Lagos, Nigeria, a market trader inspects a ram he is selling ahead of Eid al-Adha celebrations.

SODIQ ADELAKUN / REUTERS A man holds a ram faces and looks at its mouth and eyes. — The following day in Lagos, Nigeria, a market trader inspects a ram he is selling ahead of Eid al-Adha celebrations.

Days earlier in Egypt, it's time to harvest grapes at this farm in Wadi El Natrun. The country's grape exports have grown steadily in recent years.

DOAA ADEL / NURPHOTO / GETTY IMAGES A farm worker reaches up to cut large bunches of grapes from the vine [on Saturday]. — Days earlier in Egypt, it's time to harvest grapes at this farm in Wadi El Natrun. The country's grape exports have grown steadily in recent years.

Nigerian fashion designer Sandrah Tubobereni attends an event in Italy on Thursday.

FRANCO ORIGLIA / GETTY IMAGES A woman dressed in white with a coral-coloured necklace stands inside a cloistered building in Rome. — Nigerian fashion designer Sandrah Tubobereni attends an event in Italy on Thursday.

A Nigeria fans cheers her team to victory against Jamaica in the Unity Cup football final which ended 5-4 in the UK on Saturday.

JACQUES FEENEY / OFFSIDE / GETTY IMAGES A women dressed in the Nigeria kit waves the Nigerian flag from the stands in the stadium. — A Nigeria fans cheers her team to victory against Jamaica in the Unity Cup football final which ended 5-4 in the UK on Saturday.

On the same day in Senegal close the Gambian border, these dancers take part in the Niumi Badiya Festival...

JEROME FAVRE / EPA People dressed in red, tasselled costumes dance as a part of a masquerade. — On the same day in Senegal close the Gambian border, these dancers take part in the Niumi Badiya Festival...

The event emphasises the shared cultural heritage of the wider region, often referred to as Senegambia.

JEROME FAVRE / EPA A man crouches on the ground playing a saxophone. People dancing near him. They all wear blue and yellow clothing. — The event emphasises the shared cultural heritage of the wider region, often referred to as Senegambia.

On the same day a few hours' drive north, people on Joal-Fadiouth island line the streets to watch the crowning of the 25th Sacuur (centre), a customary leader.

PATRICK MEINHARDT / AFP /GETTY IMAGES A man dressed in a white boubou walks past men dressed in matching blue clothing. — On the same day a few hours' drive north, people on Joal-Fadiouth island line the streets to watch the crowning of the 25th Sacuur (centre), a customary leader.

Riders display their mastery in the saddle as well as their ornate styling at the Hassan II Trophy of Tbourida in Morocco on Friday.

ISSAM ZERROK/ HANS LUCAS / AFP / GETTY IMAGES A man dressed in white embroidered clothing rides a horse wearing ornate tack. — Riders display their mastery in the saddle as well as their ornate styling at the Hassan II Trophy of Tbourida in Morocco on Friday.

On the same day in France, the Eritrean cycling champion Biniam Girmay waves to fans ahead of Boucles de la Mayenne race.

LUC CLAESSEN / GETTY IMAGES Two men dressed in racing lycra, helmets and sunglasses stand side by side. One of them waves. — On the same day in France, the Eritrean cycling champion Biniam Girmay waves to fans ahead of Boucles de la Mayenne race.

Liberia's Maia McCoy triumphs in the Women's 100m race, at the Kip Keino Classic - World Continental Tour in Kenya on Saturday.

TONY KARUMBA / AFP / GETTY IMAGES Three women run across the finish line on an athletics track. Two on the left are dressed in black and represent Liberia. The woman to their right is dressed in red and represents the USA. — Liberia's Maia McCoy triumphs in the Women's 100m race, at the Kip Keino Classic - World Continental Tour in Kenya on Saturday.

People queue up to vote in Burundi's legislative elections on Thursday, with which the governing CNDD-FDD party hopes to tighten its grip on power.

TCHANDROU NITANGA / AFP / GETTY IMAGES A woman jests as her photo is taken in the voting queue at a primary school in the capital, Gitega. She is holding several ballot papers in one hand. — People queue up to vote in Burundi's legislative elections on Thursday, with which the governing CNDD-FDD party hopes to tighten its grip on power.

And on Saturday a lone fisherman tries his luck off Morocco's Atlantic coast in Casablanca.

JEWEL SAMAD / AFP / GETTY IMAGES A man fishes from the shore. Behind him are large rocks and concrete wave breakers. — And on Saturday a lone fisherman tries his luck off Morocco's Atlantic coast in Casablanca.

From the BBC in Africa this week:

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

Focus on Africa

This Is Africa