Open Call for African Photographers

Deadline: 01 May 2026. Submit photography that showcases youth in your country leading!

Author

Unpublished Africa
April 20, 2026

Welcome to African Visual Storyteller! Your weekly guide to African photographers, exhibitions, and creative opportunities.

This space exists to support visibility, connection, and real pathways for African creatives. Thank you for being part of our growing ecosystem.

African Visual Storyteller of the Week #52

Our featured storyteller this week is Nduwa Siachaba đź‡żđź‡˛

Nduwa Siachaba (Zambia) - "A building of contrasts somewhere between old and new", 2025 (From Unpublished Africa's "From the African Streets Vol 2" Exhibition)

Open Call for African Photographers

We invite you to respond to the question:

What does leadership look like in your context?

Your work may reflect:

  • Moments where individuals or communities take initiative

  • How young people influence systems, spaces, or narratives

  • Leadership in creative practice or cultural work

  • Responsibility, accountability, or decision-making in everyday life

  • Collective or community-led approaches to leadership

  • Leadership in the absence of formal structures

Submission Guidelines:

  • Image Quantity: Submit 3-5 images. These may be a single story or a short series.

  • Caption: Include a brief caption for each image explaining what we are seeing and why it matters. When submitting, please label your captions as follows: Artist Name, Nationality, Title, Year

  • Artist Statement: A short statement about your photographic practice and the thinking behind the work you are submitting. (200 words)

  • Bio: Include a bio to share about yourself. (100 words)

  • Headshot: Please include a clear headshot.

Please note: We do not publish images with children’s faces, and any images that show peoples’ faces will need an accompanying model release.

Deadline: 01 May

Upcoming Unpublished Africa Photo Walks

Nairobi Photo Walk

Nairobi Photographers 🇰🇪: We are excited to open registrations for Nairobi Photo Walk.

  • 🗓️ Date: 26 April 2026

  • ⏰ Time: 11:00 AM

Once you have registered, you will receive a link to join the Nairobi photographers community ahead of the walk, along with any final updates closer to the date.

Lusaka Photo Walk

Lusaka Photographers 🇿🇲: We are excited to open registrations for Lusaka Photo Walk.

  • 🗓️ Date: 17 May 2026

  • ⏰ Time: 2:00 PM

Once you have registered, you will receive a link to join the Lusaka photographers community ahead of the walk, along with any final updates closer to the date.

Unpublished Africa White Paper:

Photography as an Agent of Social Transformation: Collaboration for Impact



Photography is a powerful medium for capturing human experiences and driving social change. From historical documentation to modern digital platforms, it raises awareness, mobilizes communities, and influences policy by making important issues visible.

The paper highlights the need for photographers to engage with social causes and act ethically in shaping narratives. Drawing on the African creative ecosystem and Unpublished Africa’s work, it encourages photographers to use their craft not just for storytelling, but to support meaningful social impact.

Submit to the Photo Walk Archive

Were you part of an Unpublished Africa Photo Walk? We’d love to see what you captured! Upload your photos to the Photo Walk Archive and help us document the journey.

Other Opportunities:

Help Us Improve What We’re Building

If you’ve joined an Unpublished Africa photo walk, exhibition, programme, or conversation, we’d really appreciate a quick Google rating and review.

It takes a few minutes, and it goes a long way in helping us build better infrastructure for African creatives.

👉 Leave a review here: https://g.page/r/CYo40kkDN_4UEBM/review

Thank you for being part of the journey and for helping shape what comes next.

➡️ Share this newsletter with a friend or colleague interested in the African creative economy!

Thank you for continuing to build with us.

More conversations, walks, and opportunities ahead.

— Unpublished Africa