Africa’s week in pictures: 16-22 July 2023
![](https://english.alsiasi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/130477718_gettyimages-1537761037.jpg-780x470.webp)
A selection of the best photos from across Africa and beyond this week:
![Young woman looking at a piece of art.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/13910/production/_130444108_gettyimages-1539956177.jpg)
An art exhibition is taking place in the Ivorian city of Abidjan on Monday…
![Man in stilts wearing Ivorian flag colours and a green wig.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/2B88/production/_130444111_gettyimages-1539928168-1.jpg)
This group performs outside the same venue, the Convention Centre of Abidjan.
![Animated protesters. There is smoke in the photo and someone in the middle with what looks like a cooking pot on their head.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/4EB0/production/_130444102_gettyimages-1543825971-1.jpg)
These protesters in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, are fired up as people take to the streets to demonstrate against tax hikes on Wednesday…
![Man sitting down calmly in front of a burning car.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/9CD0/production/_130444104_gettyimages-1541704218-1.jpg)
His surroundings may be on fire, but this man is unbothered, as he takes a seat next to a burning car during the same protests, called by opposition leader Raila Odinga…
![Man running with smoke from teargas surrounding him.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/EAF0/production/_130444106_gettyimages-1541801803.jpg)
However, not all the protesters are so calm. This man is running away after tear gas is fired at him. At least six people reportedly died in Wednesday’s protests.
![Floyd Mayweather at a black tie event surrounded by other sportsmen](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/3678/production/_130444931_gettyimages-1544156126.jpg)
It’s a star-studded group in Sandton, South Africa, at a banquet dinner for American boxer Floyd Mayweather on Saturday. The sportsman also visited Zimbabwe on his trip to the continent.
![Man with a painted face blowing on a whistle](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/13F71/production/_130477718_gettyimages-1537761037.jpg)
Elsewhere in South Africa, these people welcome back young men and women from an initiation ceremony in Elim on Saturday…
![Initiates wearing traditional clothing](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/EC30/production/_130446406_gettyimages-1537762376.jpg)
These initiates arrive wearing red and with symbolic sweets in their hands. Around 68,000 young people took part in the ceremony in Limpopo Province…
![Stephanie Gilmore walking with her surf board near a rainbow.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/9E10/production/_130446404_gettyimages-1541273430.jpg)
A double rainbow greets surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore in South Africa’s Eastern Cape as she takes part in the Corona Open J-Bay event on Wednesday.
![Nigerian man getting his eyes checked by a doctor](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/60EE/production/_130441842_gettyimages-1541246391-1.jpg)
A doctor examines a patient’s eyes in the Nigerian capital, Abuja on Tuesday.
![A man in a shop full of Egyptian handicraft.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/0338/production/_130442800_2f51814c-bc5a-4328-b342-68563ca9ff01.jpg)
In the Egyptian city of Luxor this seller is holding up a piece of handicraft on Sunday. The ancient city is home to great archaeological sites like the Luxor Temple and ancient tombs.
![A boy diving into the River Nile](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/2A48/production/_130442801_41282680-fc69-4230-b5b5-60e408d618cd.jpg)
While this boy takes a dive into the River Nile on the outskirts of Cairo on Wednesday to cool off from the scorching heat. The North Africa region is current going through a heatwave, with record temperatures.
![Nadine Barsoum of Egypt performing in the water.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1105C/production/_130442796_gettyimages-1542428154.jpg)
There is more water sport in Japan as Egypt’s Nadine Barsoum takes part in the Solo Tech Women Preliminary event at the 20th World Aquatics Championships on Friday…
![Team Egypt doing acrobatics.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/1858C/production/_130442799_gettyimages-1550527362.jpg)
At the same championships these members of Team Egypt take part in the Artistic Swimming Team Acrobatic Final on Monday, eventually won by China.
![Veronica Louwe doing her hair in the mirror backstage](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/ABA8/production/_130444934_8e3d8969ec384b77f0fb799957df6d360c94df510_0_6720_44801000x667.jpg)
Dancer Veronica Louwe gets ready backstage at a rehearsal for the Swan Lake Ballet in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
![Michelle Alozie smiling, whilst holding up her phone in the football stadium.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/F9C8/production/_130444936_66654b3a3f5786590f0ff033376fdfc4152ddf960_0_5546_36861000x665.jpg)
On Thursday Nigerian football player Michelle Alozie visits the Rectangular Stadium in Australia as the Women’s World Cup kicks off. Nigeria will play Canada on Friday.