Through the Lens

Exploring Christmas through the eyes of photographers across Africa.

"It's that time of the year when Muslim men sell Christmas decorations across the streets of West Africa. 'Nah it's all business!' Salamy told me when I asked if he had religious conflict with selling blow-up Santas"

Lomé, Togo | Photographed by Ricci Shryock#HomeForChristmas pic.twitter.com/oWpPM6FNCG

— A F R E A D A ∼ stories from home. (@AFREADA) December 20, 2022

"Santa hit traffic coming into Cairo so he left his reindeer en route and took a camel instead."

Cairo, Egypt. | Photographed by Christina Rizk.#HomeForChristmas pic.twitter.com/VbiAOPlu6m

— A F R E A D A ∼ stories from home. (@AFREADA) December 21, 2022

“Chickens are a part of Christmas in Nigeria, as much as Turkeys are a part of Thanksgiving in the US. Knowing how to prepare and cook Christmas chicken is a rite of passage.”

Enugu, Nigeria. | Photographed by Onyekachi Iloh.#HomeForChristmas pic.twitter.com/m96cWaVRj8

— A F R E A D A ∼ stories from home. (@AFREADA) December 22, 2022

"People have gone to the village" — a popular saying in African cities, often used to explain why streets are less congested during the holiday season.

Kampala, Uganda. | Photographed by Sarah Waiswa.#HomeForChristmas pic.twitter.com/J0jPZ1YLdQ

— A F R E A D A ∼ stories from home. (@AFREADA) December 23, 2022

Christmas in Lalibela. 🕯️

Lalibela, Ethiopia. | Photographed by Girma Berta.#HomeForChristmas pic.twitter.com/bJrkAw0l06

— A F R E A D A ∼ stories from home. (@AFREADA) December 24, 2022

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