The shortlist has been selected and the final submissions for Wiki Loves Africa 2026, are now under careful review. This year’s entries capture the richness and diversity of life across Africa through Rites and Rituals—from vibrant festivals and sacred ceremonies to acts of prayer, sacrifice, and community traditions.
The international winners will be announced in mid-August, and while anticipation continues to build, we’d like to shine a spotlight on the eleven dedicated photography jury members working behind the scenes to make this year’s competition possible.
Feature Image: Image attribution: Photo one Hadhra 09.jpg by user HalloulimedAmeur, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Meet the 2026 Photography Jury
Eric Chidom (Nigeria)
Why he matters on the jury: Eric’s long-standing involvement with the contest gives him a deep understanding of what makes a strong Wiki Loves Africa submission. His documentary background helps him recognise images that not only demonstrate technical excellence but also authentically capture the stories, traditions and lived experiences that demonstrate excellence.
A documentary photographer and filmmaker based in Abuja, Eric returns for his fourth year as a Wiki Loves Africa juror. His work focuses on humanitarian issues, cultural heritage and preserving memory through visual storytelling.
His work: Eric, a cinematographer, won Best Documentary Feature for Women of Salt in 2024. Follow Eric on Instagram
Alan Levine (Canada)
An advocate for open education and the open web, Alan is the Director of Innovation and Community Engagement at Open Education Global. A prolific photographer with more than 70,000 openly licensed images, he brings decades of experience in photography and the Wikimedia Commons ecosystem.
Why he matters on the jury: Alan offers a highly knowledgeable understanding of open licensing. He knows what makes an image both visually compelling and valuable as a freely accessible educational resource, making his insight especially important in the judging process.
His work: Alan Levine (https://cog.dog/) explores the potential of new technologies for education, On Writing Podcast (2025).
Aisa Zerubabel (Nigeria)
An award-winning visual storyteller from Gombe State, Aisa specialises in documentary and event photography. With a background in Film Arts, her work explores narrative, identity and community through powerful visual storytelling.
Why she matters on the jury: Aisa brings a contemporary documentary perspective that values authenticity, emotion and human connection. Her experience capturing community life enables her to identify photographs that communicate the richness and diversity of African rites and rituals with sensitivity and depth.
Her work: Follow Aisa on Instagram
Geoffrey Kateregga (Uganda)
A Wikimedia community leader and Community Projects Lead at the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team, Geoffrey combines expertise in open knowledge, mapping and community engagement with a strong appreciation for documentary photography.
Why he matters on the jury: Geoffrey understands how visual documentation contributes to preserving knowledge and strengthening Wikimedia projects. His experience building and supporting communities across Africa helps ensure the jury recognises images that are both meaningful and valuable to the broader Wikimedia ecosystem.
His work: Check out his OSM Profile
Aboubacar “Bouba Kam’s” Kamaté (Côte d’Ivoire)
An accomplished videographer and director, Bouba Kam’s is a two-time Wiki Loves Africa Best Video Quality winner. His experience behind the camera gives him a keen eye for composition, storytelling and visual impact.
Why he matters on the jury: Having been recognised by Wiki Loves Africa himself, Bouba understands the creativity and dedication involved in producing outstanding visual work. His filmmaking background allows him to evaluate photographs through the lens of narrative, composition and emotional impact.
His work: Subscribe to his YouTube Channel
David Brazier (Zimbabwe)
With decades of professional experience, David has photographed architecture, development and environmental stories across southern Africa. His work has appeared in publications including TIME, National Geographic Africa and The New York Times.
Why he matters on the jury: David brings the seasoned eye of an accomplished editorial photographer. His experience documenting people, places and landscapes across the continent helps the jury identify images that combine technical excellence with compelling storytelling and lasting documentary value.
His work: Explore his Portfolio
Bea de los Arcos (Spain)
Founder and curator of We Like Sharing, a public repository of Creative Commons-licensed photographs by staff, students, alumni and friends of Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands. Bea champions open licensing and the sharing of freely reusable photography. Her work bridges higher education, open culture and Wikimedia’s mission of accessible knowledge. She is a Learning Developer at Open Education Global.
Why she matters on the jury: Bea contributes an important perspective on the value of openly licensed visual content beyond photography competitions. She understands how images can inspire learning, support education and become enduring resources for people around the world.
Her work: We like sharing Flickr Stream
Marion Walton (South Africa)
A researcher whose work examines digital media, participatory culture and technology, Marion brings an interdisciplinary perspective that considers not only visual quality but also the educational and social value of images. She works as an Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town in the Film and Media department.
Why she matters on the jury: Marion’s research background encourages the jury to consider how photographs communicate knowledge, represent communities and contribute to public understanding. Her perspective complements the technical expertise of the photographers on the panel by highlighting the broader cultural significance of visual documentation.
Her work: Marion has authored/co-authored 25 papers on ResearchGate.
Musa Umar (Nigeria)
A co-founder of the Nigerian Commons Photographers User Group, Musa is passionate about photographs that tell compelling stories. His experience spans documentary, action and event photography within the Wikimedia movement.
Why he matters on the jury: As both a photographer and Wikimedia community leader, Musa understands what makes an image resonate within an open knowledge context. His experience mentoring photographers and contributing to Wikimedia Commons gives him valuable insight into the qualities that distinguish exceptional contest entries.
Explore his work as part of the Commons Photographers User Group
Nicky Newman (South Africa)
An award-winning documentary filmmaker and photographer, Nicky has served on multiple Wiki Loves Africa juries. Her work explores arts, culture and social change, and she continues to mentor photographers through workshops and masterclasses.
Why she matters on the jury: Nicky’s extensive experience as both a juror and mentor makes her an invaluable member of the panel. She combines technical expertise with a strong appreciation for authentic storytelling, helping to identify images that are visually striking while respectfully portraying the richness and diversity of African cultures.
Her work: Explore Nicky’s Portolio
Summer Kamal (Egypt)
An award-winning amateur photographer and longtime Wikimedian, Summer has organised and judged several Wikimedia photography competitions. Her experience as both a contributor and organiser brings valuable insight to this year’s judging panel.
Why she matters on the jury: Summer’s unique combination of photographic experience and deep involvement in the Wikimedia movement makes her a valuable addition to the jury. Having organised, participated in and judged numerous Wikimedia photography competitions, she understands both the creative and educational value of contest submissions. Her familiarity with Wikimedia Commons also helps ensure that winning images are not only visually outstanding but also contribute meaningfully to the free knowledge ecosystem.
Her work: Follow Summer on Instagram
Honouring the Experts Behind the Judging
Selecting the winning images is no small task. It requires a dedicated panel of experienced jurors to carefully review every submission and ensure a thoughtful, fair, and balanced judging process.
Wiki Loves Africa extends its sincere thanks to each member of the 2026 photography jury for generously sharing their time, expertise, and passion. Their commitment helps celebrate the remarkable creativity and visual storytelling showcased across the continent.
We look forward to celebrating the most outstanding photographs of Wiki Loves Africa 2026. Keep an eye open for the big announcement!