Nigeria: (re)discover the photographic wonders of the Naija in Lights project
Related project
Naija in lightsTo mark World Photography Day on 19 August, CFI invites you to discover the talent of ten young Nigerian photojournalists who took part in the Naija in Lights project. This ambitious project, supported by the agency, aimed to document a crucial moment in Nigeria's history: the presidential elections of 2023.
The presidential elections of 25 February 2023 will have left an indelible mark on the history of Nigeria: the candidate of the ruling party was elected after one of the most hotly contested elections in the country's history. To capture the essence of this historic moment, 10 photojournalists explored the deepest recesses of their society, immortalising in their shots the hopes, challenges, sorrows and disappointments born out of this election. Their mission: to help preserve the collective memory of a country that is often faced with oblivion.
Guided by Sophie Bouillon, RFI's Hausa editor and co-founder of StoryMi Academy, these photographers brilliantly captured the diversity of Nigerian experiences. From the first steps of a student voting for the first time, to the volunteers supervising the polling stations, to the daily difficulties of rural communities deprived of water and electricity, each image tells a poignant story. Some even chose to pay tribute to the Gbagyi, the original inhabitants of Abuja, whose land was confiscated but who continue to fight for their civil rights. They all said they wanted to help "archive memories and the national memory, which is all too often erased in this giant country of 220 million inhabitants".
The works of these young talents were presented in an exhibition at the Alliance française in Lagos, in partnership with the African Artists' Foundation, and were exhibited in early 2024 at the headquarters of France Médias Monde in Paris. Discover them today!
