Photography competition 2025
Who feeds the future?
This year, the #AfricanCITYFOODMonth platform gave photographers across the continent the opportunity to help us share powerful visual stories that answer the question: Who feeds the future?
We want to celebrate the people and stories of the often unseen champions working to nourish Africa’s next generation. Think: school cooks and local vendors catering to children, healthcare workers supporting maternal nutrition, those working in the first 1000 days, those raising awareness on breastfeeding, youth-led food initiatives, policy makers, fathers and the role they play, and the many spaces where children eat such as school kitchens, community feeding centres or even backyard gardens. These everyday champions are shaping a more dignified, inclusive and resilient food future for Africa’s cities.
Submissions took us on a visually insightful journey all over Africa, and our final 6 shortlisted entries and 3 selected winners are shown below.
Note: Entries featuring identifiable or close-up images of children were not considered.
Winners
Food for education
Edwin Ndeke
Nairobi, Kenya
Food systems hero: Wawira Njiru
“Hunger remains one of the most persistent barriers to learning across Africa. In Kenya alone, an estimated 11% of the country’s 24.6 million children under 18 experience food insecurity, which significantly impairs their physical and cognitive development, health outcomes, and academic success.
Wawira Njiru founder of Food4Education began by feeding 25 students a day. Today, it is the largest locally led school feeding program in Africa, serving over 450,000 children daily in more than 1,300 schools
The organization’s work has resulted in an 8-10% increase in attendance at participating schools, a 20% increase in performance on national exams and the creation of over 4,000 job”
Gardening to nourish future leaders
Ismail Odetola
Osun, Nigeria
Food systems hero: Israel Tendy
“Israel is a passionate teacher and a farmer. Israel is one of the few food heroes that still prioritise the culture of school gardens today for the nourishment of its pupils. He grew up in the early 80s & 90s, a time when public schools in Nigeria used to run an independent food crop farm that fed both teachers and students. As one of the pupils of these good old days, He purposely revitalised this culture of gardening in his private-run school in the city of Osun, Nigeria, with the plantation of maize, potato and cassava for his pupils’ nourishment”
Tata Masan
Moutari Laouali Soufianou
Niamey, Niger
Food system hero: Tata Masan
“Tata Masan, a kind-hearted woman, whom we met in Mali during a camp bringing together more than 400 young people from Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, was our source of energy. For two weeks, from sunrise to sunset, she simmered delicious dishes inspired by the culinary riches of the Sahel for our breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Her meals, full of flavor and love, strengthened our bodies and warmed our hearts. Through her generosity and dedication, she embodies the soul of Sahelian food systems: nourishing with passion, preserving traditions, and offering the strength to continue each day.”
Shortlisted entries
Roots of hope
Romuald Agbatchi
BÉNIN
Food systems hero: Murielle Ménadèle Makou
“I am a farmer in a rapidly expanding neighborhood of Parakou. On my plot of land, I work hard to grow food to feed families and supply local markets. Each season, I sell part of my harvest to school cafeterias, enabling many children to eat their fill. I also teach children environmentally friendly farming practices. Through my quiet but essential efforts, I am helping to build a future where every child can grow up with healthy, accessible, locally produced food.”
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)”
From the soil to the future: Date harvesting in Giza
Amira Adel AbdelMonem Badr
Giza, Egypt
Food systems hero: Ali and his wife: Harvesting dates, true heroes of Giza
“In Giza, Egypt, the harvest of dates is a vital agricultural practice that plays a crucial role in the local food system. Date palms are an essential crop, providing sustenance for countless families and contributing significantly to the economy. With over 200,000 hectares of date palms across Egypt, the date harvest supports thousands of farmers. These unsung heroes are integral in ensuring food security, especially in arid regions. By carefully tending to the harvest, they not only nourish their communities but also preserve sustainable practices that influence future generations, making them true champions in Egypt’s food system.”
Tomato drying
Doaa Adel
Cairo, Egypt
Food systems hero: Tomato drying workers
“In Esna, Luxor, women lay out freshly cut tomatoes to dry under the sun — preserving the harvest and sustaining traditions that help feed future generations.”
A mother to the streets
Priscillia Uzomah
@rigozoart | rigozo.pixieset.com
Lagos, Nigeria
Food systems hero: Ajoke Bello
“In Isale Odunsi, a lively neighborhood in Bariga, Lagos, lives Ajoke Bello, whom I fondly call Iya (Mother) for her quiet and welcoming disposition. Iya is a cornerstone of her community. With a spirit full of joy, she serves both adults and children from her humble wooden table. Despite the economic crisis, she intentionally keeps her prices low so everyone can eat. Her affordable portions mean local children can use their pocket money for a hot, nutritious meal, ensuring the next generation is fed. She is truly a mother to the streets.”
Where women gather
Ene Ochayi
@Enny_ochayi | ene-ochayi.vercel.app/
Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
Food systems hero: Rice sievers of Makurdi
“In Benue State, which contributes 6% of Nigeria’s rice production, women play a vital role in the rice value chain. At the mill houses, they skillfully sieve rice, removing stones and chaff, a craft mastered over years and passed down to daughters and younger relatives. As they work, they share stories, laugh together, discuss family, and envision the future, turning their space into both a workplace and a community hub. These women are not just sieving rice, they are sustaining tradition and strengthening the economy.”
Life of a fisherman
Solomon Tetteh
Accra, Ghana
Food systems hero: Mr Korley
“Mr Korley is a local fisherman who spends his early morning fishing at the shores of the beach in Teshie. It is his way of contributing to his family’s upkeep as the man of the house. Fishing has been a part of their family history and he tends to pass that skill on to his children when they come of age.”
