Photo Walks, Open Calls & Creative Conversations This Week

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

Our featured storyteller this week is Anilla Zavai 🇰🇪

Unpublished Africa featured in AFRICA ART Magazine

Last month, AFRICA ART Magazine published a feature on Unpublished Africa’s work, reflecting on how exhibitions, research, and community-led initiatives contribute to building long-term infrastructure for African creatives.

The article situates our work within broader conversations on access, early-career pathways, and sustainable creative practice across the continent.

Read the feature: https://artafricamagazine.org/unpublished-africa-building-sustainable-pathways-for-creative-entrepreneurship/

Community Update: A Strong Start to the Year

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Nairobi Photo Walk.
These walks continue to be a way for photographers to meet, exchange perspectives, and build community through practice. We’ve hosted Unpublished Africa events in 16 African cities to date, and we’re looking to grow this work. If you’re connected to creative organisations, collectives, or spaces in your city, please do connect us.

Join our Creative Conversations (Live on X Spaces)

How Creatives Find Each Other:

🗓️ Tuesday 3 February 2026
⏰ 7 PM CAT | 6 PM WAT | 8 PM EAT
📍 X Spaces (@unpub_africa)

Upcoming Photo Walks

Jos Photo Walk

🇳🇬 Join our 3rd Jos Photo Walk this February:

• 🗓️ 27 February 2026, ⏰ 3 PM

• Register: https://airtable.com/appoOCu5Be7LsDtNg/shrR5W5QIiVA6GCBg

Lusaka Photo Walk

Photo walks remain one of our entry points into visibility, community, and long-term creative infrastructure. Here are the details for the next Lusaka Photo Walk 🇿🇲 :

• 🗓️ 15 February 2026, ⏰ 2 PM

• Register: https://airtable.com/appoOCu5Be7LsDtNg/shrIpbbXG2cGlZUJD

Unpublished Africa Opportunities & Open Calls

Coffee Culture Exhibition Call Out

Ethiopian photographers are invited to submit work for the Coffee Culture Group Photography Exhibition. Share visual stories exploring coffee culture, ritual, and community.

• Deadline: 8 February

• Link: https://airtable.com/appf0GGiOOYqqSMzO/shrEJWt5LR361MLe1

Bakashimika Photography Festival Call Out

Did you know that Bakashimika Photography Festival if cofounded by Creative Business Studio Alumni? Submit your work to be considered for an exhhibition in Zambia during the festival:

• Deadline: 15 February 2026

• Link: https://unpublished.beehiiv.com/p/call-for-submissions-for-creative-business-studio-alumni

Women's Month Exhibition Call Out

This exhibition builds on our 2025 exhibition and research on unlocking true empowerment for African women in photography. Share this opportunity with an African woman photographer:

• Deadline: 15 February 2026

• Link : https://unpublished.beehiiv.com/p/open-call-for-women-photographers-2026

Representation Exhibition is Still Open

The Representation Exhibition is still open, but not for long. If you haven’t visited yet, now’s the time to experience the powerful stories and perspectives on display. Don’t miss the chance to see the work before the exhibition closes.

View the exhibition : https://www.unpublished.africa/representation-exhibition

Other Opportunities:

• Videographer & Editor Job ( Ayan Karanja ) - deadline: 5 February

• AGORA 2026 Program ( AfricTivistes Citizen Lab Cameroun ) - deadline: 5 February

• In-House Videographer Job ( Username Properties Limited ) - deadline: 5 February

• Bertha Fund For Documentary Film-makers across Africa ( International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) ) - deadline: 10 February

• Call for Filmmakers and Video Editors ( Asedeva ) - deadline: 10 February

• MultiChoice Talent Factory ( MultiChoice Group ) - deadline: 27 February

• Kuonyesha Art Fund Call ( Kuonyesha Art Fund ) - deadline: 28 February

• The 17th Greenstorm Photography Festival ( Greenstorm Foundation ) - deadline: 28 February

• The Spark Impact Program ( Sunshine Cinema ) - deadline: 13 March

• Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award ( International Women's Media Foundation ) - deadline: 31 March

• Minority Africa Call for Storytellers ( Minority Africa ) - rolling deadline

• Pulitzer Center Grant ( Pulitzer Center ) - rolling deadline

• Call For Global Collaborators ( Young Leaders For Arts and Health ) - rolling deadline

  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.
  

  Your feedback helps us:

  • Understand what’s working on the ground

  • Improve how we design future events

  • Strengthen our case for partnerships and support
    

  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