Africa’s top shots: 15-21 August 2025


A selection of the week’s best photos from across the African continent and beyond:

Daniel Irungu/Shutterstock/EPA A model wearing shorts, black heeled boots and red boxing gloves walks across an outdoor boxing ring as crowds of people look on under grey skies - Saturday 16 August 2025.Daniel Irungu/Shutterstock/EPA

A model in Kenya is photographed on Saturday in a boxing ring ahead of a tournament to mark International Youth Day in Mathare slum in the capital, Nairobi.

Brenton Geach/Gallo Images/Getty Images Protesters walking along the beach carrying Extinction Rebellion flags and a banner with the following words written on it "Kick Total Out Of Africa". The protesters are making kicking motions and have large mock shoes on - Tuesday 19 August 2025.Brenton Geach/Gallo Images/Getty Images

There are big kicks in Cape Town on Tuesday as South African climate activists call for Total to be kicked out of Africa. The energy giant has not responded the campaign but describes itself as committed to providing sustainable energy.

Frennie Shivambu/Gallo Images/Getty Images Mia le Roux smiles whilst wearing a white blazer, gold earrings and her hair in a up-do - Friday 15 August 2025.Frennie Shivambu/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Mia le Roux, who became the first deaf woman to be crowned Miss South Africa last year, smiles for cameras in the capital, Pretoria, on Friday as she attends a national dialogue convention that seeks to identify the most important issues facing the country.

Billel Bensalem/APP/NurPhoto/Getty Images A man in a blue T-shirt tipping a red crate of potatoes into his market display. There is a large pile of potatoes in front of him - Sunday 17 August 2025.Billel Bensalem/APP/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Potatoes abound at this food market on Sunday as a trader replenishes his potato stock in Algeria’s capital, Algiers.

Badru Katumba/AFP/Getty Images A man blows his trombone against a background of blue skies, whilst wearing red, yellow and white face and body paint - Monday 18 August 2025.Badru Katumba/AFP/Getty Images

The next day in Wasiko, Uganda, a trombone player blows his horn before a football tournament game at the Africa Nations Championship (Chan), where Uganda faced off South Africa in a group stage match.

Donwilson Odhiambo/Getty Images Football fans sitting outside on a grassy area. Some are smiling and others on their phone - Sunday 17 August 2025.Donwilson Odhiambo/Getty Images

There are smiles on Sunday at a fan zone in Nairobi set up for Kenyan football fans to watch their team take on Zambia in a Chan match.

Adekunle Ajayi/NurPhoto/Getty Images Young boys wearing red and white patterned traditional Yoruba clothes stand in front of men carrying what looks like sticks. Some of the men behind are wearing red and white clothing also - Wednesday 20 August 2025.Adekunle Ajayi/NurPhoto/Getty Images

On Wednesday, these young children in Nigeria’s city of Lagos participate in festivities on Isese Day, when Yoruba traditions are celebrated.

Emmanuel Adegboye/Shutterstock/EPA A woman wearing a red-checked traditional outfit spreads her arms to display her agbada style outfit. She is standing in front of a dishevelled brown coloured building - Saturday 16 August 2025.Emmanuel Adegboye/Shutterstock/EPA

In the Nigerian state of Oyo on Saturday there are more Yoruba celebrations as a worshipper of the deity Sango shows off her clothing as she participates in the annual Sango festival.

Robert Okine/Getty Images Singer Asake on stage with dark sunglasses wearing a white T-shirt and platinum jewellery. His band is behind him - Saturday 16 August 2025.Robert Okine/Getty Images

On the same day in Detroit, Nigerian musician Asake graces the stage at a concert in the US city.

Fethi Belaid/AFP/Getty Images Ahlam performs on stage while wearing a white dress with jewels on it. Behind her is a band, including men in black suits playing a drum, tambourine and drums - Thursday 21 August 2025.Fethi Belaid/AFP/Getty Images

Emirati singer, Ahlam, glitters on stage on Thursday during a performance at Tunisia’s Carthage International Festival.

Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images Divers in wet suits watch as a crane pulls an artefact from the waters at Abu Qir bay in Alexandria - Thursday 21 August 2025.Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images

Divers in a bay in the Egyptian city of Alexandria watch as a crane pulls up a giant stone artefact on Thursday as part of drive to recover sunken antiquities.

Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters Girl in a white T-shirt with dark brown hair staring out the window of a bus whilst smiling. Her mother, wearing a black and white outfit, holds her back slightly - Thursday 21 August 2025. Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

In the same port city on the same day, a young girl smiles as enjoys the breeze through the window of a bus as temperatures soar amid a heatwave.

More from BBC Africa over the past week:

Getty Images/BBC A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News AfricaGetty Images/BBC