Days ago, I was opportuned to document the Kanem Borno Cultural Summit, a gathering of Kanuri people from across West Africa and beyond coming together to honor their traditions.
The Kanuri have their origins in the ancient Kanem‑Borno Empire, a civilization that is said to have existed for over a thousand years around the Lake Chad region.
Through traditional performances and cultural displays, the summit showcased the heritage of the Kanem‑Borno region, while inspiring attendees from countries like Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Libya and Ghana to preserve and pass on their traditions to the next generation.
In today’s Nigerian economy, where stability often depends on creativity and persistence, many young people are redefining what it means to make a living. Shuaibu Mukthari, 25, is one of them. He works at a bakery during the day, sells charcoal in his spare time, and operates a two wheeler bike in the evening to earn extra income.
His life reflects the reality of Nigeria’s growing hustle culture, where individuals take charge of their future by diversifying their efforts and building multiple streams of income and shows how people are staying productive and finding opportunity in everyday work.
As a documentary photographer & filmmaker, sometimes I think back to the first time I picked up a camera and how that small decision has carried me. It took me into lives I would have never understood from a distance and introduced me to people I would have never met otherwise.
More than anything, the people whose stories I’ve shared have left an impact on me that goes far beyond the photographs.
Happy World Photography Day to the photographs, the people, the connections and my little baby (My camera).
Photographs: Ismail Abba Umar
Located in a remote and highly inaccessible area, Rann is one of the most inaccessible towns in Northeastern Nigeria. Its isolation, poor roods and security challenges have left it largely disconnected from civilization.
The town, near the Cameroonian border in Borno State has been deeply affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.
On my recent assignment, I had the opportunity to visit Rann and saw how people continue to go about their lives despite the challenges.
1&2: Babagana Isah, 31, returns home from his farm after cultivating his harvest.
3&4: Rawa Abba, a skilled canoe maker and a canoeist.
5: A canoe transports passengers across the water to Bado, a neighboring village in Cameroon.
6&7: A farm worker husks sorghum in a nearby farm.
8&9: Mustapha Goni, a barber, owns a shop at the market square.
The streets reward those who never give up.
A day exploring the streets of Maiduguri with @thefolajimy & @otofunmii . Let the sights and sounds of our adventure invite you to explore more.
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