Benjamin Mkapa African Wildlife Photography Awards
November 4, 2023 - April 21, 2024Exhibition open November 4, 2023 – April 21, 2024
Presented in partnership with the African Wildlife Foundation and Nature’s Best Photography, the Benjamin Mkapa African Wildlife Photography Awards includes 48 prints and 4 videos. Named after the late Tanzanian president H.E. Benjamin Mkapa, a dedicated conservationist, the Mkapa Photo Awards feature 13 categories intended to capture beauty, uniqueness, and challenges facing African wildlife. Two of the categories are dedicated to youth: youth in Africa and international youth; others include “coexistence and conflict,” “African conservation heroes,” and “Africa’s backyard wildlife.”
Kaddu Sebunya, CEO of the African Wildlife Foundation, was integral in the formation of the contest, and the structure allows for a diverse roster of entrants. “It was absolutely intentional,” Sebunya says. “The diversity is clear not only in the photos, but in the photographers themselves. Our vision was to illustrate so many aspects of conservation and of Africa. We wanted to address all of the different issues that impact and support conservation on the continent.”
With this traveling exhibition, Sebunya is that much closer to the competition’s mission, which is to “bring the world to Africa and to bring Africa to the world.” Sebunya helped found the prestigious photography contest in partnership with the Nature’s Best Photography Fund in 2021 with the ambitious goal of raising awareness about the importance of empowering Africans to take the lead in conservation. “To be sustainable, conservation must be led by Africans because we are the stewards of these resources,” says Sebunya. “These images and videos help start the conversation. They help define and refine Africa’s agenda for conservation and development.”
Can’t visit the Museum in person? Explore the virtual tour:
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Staff Picks
Through May 10, 2026Curating this exhibit has been an exercise in collaboration, which is one of our core values at the Museum. We began by asking each staff member to make a short list of some of their favorite works in the collection. Then, the curatorial team took them to see a few of those pieces. We asked the staff to look for artworks that were not already on display and would not be part of any upcoming exhibitions. A person’s taste in art is so uniquely personal and individual to who they are. This exhibition is not only an opportunity for you to get to know our staff, but it is also a chance to discover new pieces in the permanent collection—or perhaps to see old favorites in a new light.
See the Exhibit
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Two of a Kind?
Through April 26, 2026This exhibition is an exercise in comparison. It invites visitors to consider pairs of artworks, drawn primarily from the Museum’s permanent collection, and contemplate the question posed by its title: are these artworks truly Two of a Kind?
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