PHOT AFRICA

The Aims of Photo Africa Competition & Exhibition1. To document the life, people and landscape of Africa.2. To enhance knowledge and promote interest in best practice photography3. To empower young photographers by providing platforms to enhance learning and economic outlets for their works.4. To promote inter-African dialogue through art.

The Jury members:Timipre Amah – NigeriaPierre Duffour - FranceEmeka Egwuibe – NigeriaMargie McClelland - Australia John Fleetwood – South AfricaAyo Adewunmi - Nigeria .

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I think it is a great idea as you everyone learns from the experience of submitting photos,

judging and being part of the process. We are always on a learning curve regardless on how

professional you can think you are there is always something you can pick up on. The

photos of a whole were very interesting and tell what the photographers saw in their

everyday life. I

found it interesting as something you might consider mundane is very interesting to an

observer.

Please thank the photographers who submitted their images and I congratulate the winning

entry.

Warm regards,

Margie McClelland

Cette année encore, j'ai été particulièrement fier et heureux de faire partie du jury de Photo Africa et je tiens à vous remercier de m'y avoir convié.

Le choix final n'a pas été facile, tant les images retenues dans la dernière sélection illustraient parfaitement bien, chacune à sa manière, les différents aspects de "la vie dans la cité".

Il a donc fallu se résoudre à en éliminer et ne retenir que les plus pertinentes. Je pense que le choix final est parfaitement cohérent avec le thème du concours. Le cadrage et la composition sont ici parfaitement maîtrisés, donnant de la puissance au message délivré. Vie trépidante et solitude, tous les paradoxes de la vie urbaine réunis dans une seule image !

Le grand photographe Eugène Smith a dit un jour: "La photographie est juste une petite voix. Je crois en elle. S'il elle est bien conçue, il lui arrive parfois de se faire entendre...". Tout est dit ici et la "petite voix" de la photo qui gagne le concours cette année s'est parfaitement bien faite entendre. Une bonne photo s'impose d'elle même, nous en avons encore ici la preuve.

Sincères félicitations au vainqueur !

Mon cher Ayo, je vous adresse, à vous et à l'ensemble de votre équipe, mes sentiments les meilleurs.

Bien cordialementPierre DUFFOUR

commentsThis year again, I was especially proud and happy to be part of the jury of Photo Africa and I want to thank you for inviting me.

The final choice was not easy, as the images in the final selection illustrated perfectly, each one in its own way, the various aspects of "life in the city." It was therefore necessary to resolve the problem by removing some and retaining only the most relevant.

I think the final choice is in perfect cohesion with the theme of the contest. The framing and composition are perfectly controlled, giving power to the message delivered. Hectic life and loneliness, all the paradoxes of urban life are together in one picture!

The great photographer Eugene Smith once said: "Photography is just a small voice. I believe in this voice. If it is well designed, It can sometimes be heard...". Everything is said here and the "little voice" of the photo that won the competition this year was perfectly perceptible. A good photo expresses itself, we have here again the demonstration of this fact.

All my ongratulations to the winner !

My dear Ayo, best regards and best wishes to you and your entire team.

Yours sincerely,Pierre Duffour

“Photography is just a weak voice, but sometimes, only sometimes, one or more pictures can take our senses to the consciousness; photography induces in occasions to so intense emotions that reach the point of reagent of the mind.” - Eugene Smith

introduction

From the colonial period, the camera has been a tool for gazing at the culture, landscape and people of Africa. The myriad of photographs

taken and presented by the non-Africans portrayed the outsider's perspective; consequently they could not be accepted as authentic

representations of reality. An objective and more realistic photographic presentation of Africa can only be provided by the African, a true

insider. For this reason, the Life In My City Photo Africa, a Pan African photography competition becomes invaluable as a platform for

African photographers under 35 years of age to interpretatively express themselves. p

thLife In My City Art Festival (LIMCAF) Photo Africa was founded in 2012 during the 6 edition of LIMCAF so as to open up the LIMCAF

competition to other African countries. The aims of the Photo Africa Competition & Exhibition include: documenting the life, peoples and

landscapes of Africa; enhancing best practices in photography; providing learning platforms on which to empower enthusiastic young

photographers while creating economic outlets for their works; and promoting inter-African dialogue through art.

After the maiden edition, Photo Africa was invited to feature its top 40 photographs at the Adis Fotofest. Since then, with the support of the

Alliance Française network across Africa, Photo Africa has begun to gain acceptance and recognition as a 'high potential' annual photo

competition. For the 2014 competition, sixty-six entries were received from Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Gambia, Senegal, Swaziland, Algeria,

Uganda and Madagascar, fewer than those received in 2013. This drop in number may be attributed to the late announcement of the

competition. Photo Africa's competition theme, “Life In My City”, offers a strong photographic medium for voicing thoughts about the

immediate environment of these insiders. Through the lens of each photographer, authentic stories of society can be represented and

their interpretations supported within the various cultural contexts from which they have emerged.

The Photo Africa jury considered the following criteria in judging the entries: originality, technical qualities and composition. 31 photos

selected after the first round were exhibited during the Grand Finale of LIMCAF. After two further rounds of selection, “Alone but Free” by

Muhammed Wassem was chosen as the best entry.

The organizers have a few hurdles to overcome as they deliberate on the future of Photo Africa. One such major issue is the need to nd rdexpand the project through more adequate funding, particularly to enable monies to be given for 2 and 3 prizes and thereby encourage

more widespread participation. One truth remains certain: Photo Africa has come to stay and its fuller potentials will manifest in time.

Ayo Adewunmi

LIMCAF Art Director

Africa through the Lens of Africans

Alone but Free, MUHAMMED WASSEM, EGYPT

Muhammed Wassem Elmaghrabi Osman Herz, born 22 of November 1989 is Master Researcher in Modern History at the Faculty of Art, Mansoura University Mansoura, Egypt.

He has participated in many

photography exhibitions and

competitions.

2014WINNER

PHOT AFRICA

WelcomingMUHAMMED WASSEM, EGYPT

Another Rainy Day EZENNIA ONYINYECHI, NIGERIA

Evening Cleansing, EZENNIA ONYINYECHI, NIGERIA

Hunter 2, ALAA EL DIN MOHSEN ELSAYED EL DIBEGYPT

Hunter 1ALAA EL DIN MOHSEN ELSAYED EL DIBEGYPT

The ClusterAKANJI BOLAJI, NIGERIA

À La Recherche Du Pain Quotidien 1, KOLAPPO MOUSSA, MALI

The Cathedral, EJIOFOR FRANCIS, NIGERIA

Search for Livelihood, EWANG ERIC

Live Where Working, HOSNI MOSSALAM, EGYPT

Hunting Gandofli After Down, HOSNI MOSSALAM, EGYPT

Plus de Passage Pieton, NDEYE FATOU THIAM, SENEGAL

Lavindie res, NDEYE FATOU THIAM, SENEGAL

Midnight Mechanic, JOEL ISABABI, UGANDA

L'eauducotonNGASSAM TCHATCHOUA YVON LEOLEIN, CAMEROUN

Home AloneCHUKWUMA DORIS, NIGERIA

Yesterday Dawns TomorrowCHUKWUMA DORIS, NIGERIA

Mon Lit, MARKEMAL KHADIDJA, ALGERIA

Ma Maison, MARKEMAL KHADIDJA, ALGERIA

UgandaKIBUUKA MUKISA OSCAR, UGANDA

Uganda BreakingKIBUUKA MUKISA OSCAR, UGANDA

Pottery House,KAMAL MOHAMMED, EGYPT

Aim, KAMAL MOHAMMED, EGYPT

The Night Hawker, AKILA JIBRINNIGERIA

ScavengerNJOKU FRANCIS, NIGERIA

Waiting for the Third Monkey, EZE MARIAGORETTI CHINENYE, NIGERIA

The RestaurantUKAEGBU MAUREEN, NIGERIA

E No EasyEMA CLARA, NIGERIA

Reflection UKEOMA MODESTUS, NIGERIA

Emergency, OLUWATOBI ADEWUNMI, NIGERIA

Au Coin des Bons Amis, RANAIVOSOA TOLOJANAHARY, MADAGASCAR

2014