Garba Bakura, a documentary photographer and filmmaker from Yobe State, Nigeria has emerged victorious in the 2024 Africa Soft Power Climate Change Photo Essay Prize for his evocative work “In Search for A Drop.”
The winning entry, selected from a competitive pool of over 300 submissions, masterfully documents the struggle of farming communities grappling with severe water scarcity amid advancing desertification in northern Nigeria.
The Africa Soft Power Group, led by founder Nkiru Balonwu, announced that Bakura’s work will headline a global exhibition tour, starting in major cities including Nairobi, Lagos, London, New York and São Paulo. The tour aims to spotlight the urgent climate challenges facing the African continent, where projections indicate one in four people globally will reside by 2050.
Beyond the grand prize winner, eight other photographers received recognition, with four named as finalists and four receiving highly commended status. Their work, exclusively featured in African Business Magazine, presents diverse perspectives on climate change’s impact across African communities.
“These storytellers are playing a crucial role in documenting the frontline effects of climate change in Africa,” said Balonwu in a LinkedIn post. “Their work goes beyond mere documentation – it’s a powerful call to action addressing the intersections of health, agriculture, geopolitics, economics, and security.”
The competition represents a significant initiative in enhancing climate literacy and amplifying African voices in global climate discussions. As the continent faces disproportionate impacts from climate change, these visual narratives serve as compelling evidence of the urgent need for global climate action and support for affected communities.
