Benjamin Mkapa African Wildlife Photography Awards

Exhibition 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.”