Final Call for Submissions: Representation

Unpublished Africa invites photographers across the continent to submit work for our upcoming exhibition, Representation.

Unpublished Africa invites photographers across the continent to submit black and white work for our upcoming exhibition, Representation.

Across the continent, photographers are shaping how Africa sees itself. Images influence memory, identity, and public understanding. They reveal who is centred, who is left out, and how stories travel. For this year’s Photo Week, we are focusing on black and white photography as a way to look closely at representation — to slow down, notice detail, and read the story without distractions.

Black and white allows us to pay attention to light, texture, and the choices photographers make when framing people and places. It helps bring work from different cities and contexts into the same visual space, while still allowing each photographer’s voice to stay clear. In this open call, we are looking for work that uses black and white to explore who tells the story, how it is told, and why it matters.

Who can apply

• African photographers aged 18 and above

• Both emerging and established photographers

• Work can be documentary, conceptual, or experimental, as long as it engages the theme of representation

What we’re looking for

• A thoughtful black and white series of 3–5 images exploring representation in any form

• Work that brings attention to overlooked communities, identities, or narratives

• Projects rooted in context and grounded in place, people, and lived experience

• Honest storytelling that avoids stereotypes or simplified portrayals

How to apply

• Submit up to 5 JPEG images (maximum 5MB each)

• Include a short artist statement (200–300 words) explaining your approach to black and white and the theme

• Add a short bio (100 words max)

• Use this link to submit:
  https://airtable.com/appBCShD073iFX4xB/shrsrQSTuSzpa99oP

• Deadline: 22 November 2025

When submitting, please label your captions as follows:
Artist Name, Nationality, Title, Year

About Unpublished Africa

Unpublished Africa is committed to creating entry points for African photographers at the early stages of their careers. We provide exhibitions, workshops, publications, and community-led programmes that help visual storytellers build networks, strengthen their practice, and access opportunities within the creative economy.

We believe in the value of honest and nuanced storytelling. Many photographers who have begun their journey with us — through Photo Walks, Creative Business Studio, or first-time exhibitions — have gone on to receive regional and international recognition. These early steps matter, which is why we work to make them accessible.

Unpublished Africa continues to support the voices shaping the continent’s creative future, centering curiosity, community, and collaboration.