Photo credit | Sani Maikatanga
By Sehubo Festus
Maikatanga photo work won Wiki Loves Africa, photo contest
Sani Maikatanga, a Nigerian photographer, won first prize in the International Wiki Loves Africa 2023 Competition for his striking shot showing a man’s struggle in flooded waters. These floods occurred in the Auyo village in Jigawa state, Nigeria, as a result of severe rainfall caused by weather disturbances, deforestation, and the effects of climate change.
The International Wiki Loves Africa 2023 competition has the theme “Climate and Weather.” It aims to highlight the various climates and everyday weather patterns encountered across the African continent.
Climate conditions, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), have a substantial impact on essential health determinants such as access to clean air, safe drinking water, adequate food, and secure shelter.
This year’s Wiki Loves Africa competition highlighted the often-overlooked details. It received over 13,413 photographs from 51 different countries, with the winners chosen by a jury of 13 international photography specialists.
Michale Maggas, one of the international jury, commented on Maikatanga’s winning shot, praising its ability to effectively convey the awful reality faced by flood-ravaged villages. He appreciated the image’s vivid hues and sharp clarity, which he said added to its emotional resonance and visual significance.
Maikatanga, in response to the development, expresses his deep appreciation to Wiki Loves Africa for recognizing his work. He states, “I want to convey that receiving this special recognition from such a prestigious competition is a true honor. Words cannot adequately describe how much this prize means to me.”
The 1st Prize for the International Wiki Loves Africa 2023 photography category comes with a cash prize of $2,000.
Sani Mohammed Maikatanga is a seasoned photojournalist and documentary photographer with a career spanning since 1992.
Wiki Loves Africa is a global movement that extends across the African continent and beyond. It encourages individuals, interest groups, and organizations to actively contribute to, expand, and enrich online content related to Africa. This mission involves promoting the representation of Africa’s contemporary realities, its history, its diverse peoples, and its innovations in the world’s most widely used encyclopedia, Wikipedia.