Africa’s year in pictures 2023: Fans, snow and checkmate

A selection of this year's best photos from the African continent and beyond.John Wessels/AFPA woman looks out from a bar at Virage beach in Dakar, Senegal, on a January evening.Mohamed Abd El Ghany/ReutersWhile this hopeful dog peers out from an animal shelter in Egypt's capital, Cairo, later in the month.Ihsaan Haffejee/Getty ImagesIn February, a boy takes a leap at a Lunar New Year event in the South African city of Johannesburg.John Wessels/AFPA couple of weeks later, the Lagos International Polo Tournament in Nigeria is a place to see and be seen.Kwame Adzaho-Amenortor/Getty ImagesA mural is unveiled in Tema in February in memory of Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu, who died in Turkey's earthquakes.Robyn Beck/Getty ImagesIn March, Tems makes her debut at the Oscars. Some complained that those behind the Nigerian singer during the ceremony couldn't see. But she said her outfit was intended to say: "Yes, yes, I am here!"Luis Tato/AFPLater in March a man takes part in firey anti-government protests in a suburb of Kenya's capital, Nairobi.Jasmine Leung/Getty ImagesIn April, a man washes himself while working at the Chouara Tannery in Fes, one of Morocco's biggest tanneries.Khaled Elfiqi/EPADancers perform the Tanoura folk dance in Egypt a few days later, during the holy month of Ramadan.Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFPChristians also celebrated Easter in April. Here a 14-year-old is among a group of Catholics in the Kenyan capital re-enacting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.Zohra Bensemra/ReutersIn May, two girls whose families have fled Sudan's civil war giggle together in a wheelbarrow in neighbouring Chad.Issouf Sanogo/AFPIvory Coast writer Marguerite Abouet showcases her comic book at the Abidjan International Book Fair later in the month.Badru Katumba/AFPWhile girls play chess in the Ugandan city of Entebbe during an inter-schools championship that month.Rodger Bosch/AFP In June, an activist dresses up as an oil executive in a protest organised by Extinction Rebellion in the South African city of Cape Town.Daniel Irungu/EPAIt is also the time of year for the Maasai Cultural Festival at the Sekenani village in Kenya.Samuel Alabi/AFPLater in June in Nigeria, women shield their faces from the sun at the Ojude Oba cultural festival in Ogun state.Shiraaz Mohamed/Getty ImagesIn July, residents of Johannesburg enjoy the first snow to fall in the South African city in a decade.Matthias Hangst/Getty ImagesPara Athletics World Championships take place in France that month - with Senegal's Talla Diop seen here before the javelin qualifiers.Zinyange Auntony/AFPA woman in Zimbabwe is pictured in Bulawayo as the country gears up for elections.Oupa Bopape/Getty ImagesIn August, the winner of the Miss South Africa beauty pageant, Natasha Joubert (L), is hugged by last year's title holder, Ndavi Nokeri, in Pretoria.Fadel Senna/Getty ImagesAlso in August, on the side-lines of a cultural festival held near the city of El Jadida, a boy rides his horse into the Atlantic Ocean.Carl Court/Getty ImagesIn September, Morocco suffered a devastating earthquake. Here cracks are evident in a school wall with the slogan: "A good education is worth more than a good inheritance."AFPChristians about to be baptised in the sea are seen that month on a beach in Gabon's capital, Libreville.Badru Katumba/AFPIn October, jean sellers are pictured at a market in Uganda's capital, Kampala, a few days after a ban on imported second-hand clothes came into effect.Luis Tato/AFPLater in the month, it is time for make-up backstage at Kibera Fashion Week in Kenya.Joseph Okpako/Getty ImagesIn November, Nigerian singer Rema rides a giant bat during a dramatic performance in London - also using the occasion to draw attention to the Benin Bronzes looted by British troops in 1897.Brian Inganga/ReutersThat month, Kenyan soldiers take part in a drill for King Charles. The British monarch addressed the "wrongdoings" of Britain's colonial era during his visit, but did not deliver a formal apology.Andrew Esiebo/Getty ImagesIn December, Tanzanian star Zuchu thrills the crowd at the inaugural Move Afrika festival in Rwanda, co-created by anti-poverty organisation Global Citizen.Miguel Medina/AFPGirls see the funny side as they are photographed later in the month during a visit by France's prime minister to Mayotte, the French island that is part of the Comoros archipelago.Cem Ozdel/Getty ImagesAnd Thierno Gueye dresses up as Santa Claus in Senegal's capital, Dakar, where Muslims and Christians have been celebrating Christmas together.Images subject to copyright Source link