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Fire, fairies, and festivities: Africa's top shots

Danai Nesta Kupemba
BBC News

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

Tiksa Negeri / Reuters A young girl with a beaded headband looks directly into the camera during a swearing ceremony in Arero, Ethiopia - Sunday 9 March 2025.Tiksa Negeri / Reuters
A young woman attends the week-long Gada ceremony, which is the official transfer of power from one customary ruler to his successor, near the Ethiopian town of Arero on Sunday.
Brenton Geach / Getty Images Two cyclicts wearing fairy wings compete in the annual Cape Town Cycle Tour - Sunday 9 March 2025Brenton Geach / Getty Images
On the same day, cyclists wear fairy wings as they compete in the annual Cape Town Cycle Tour on Sunday.
Marvellous Durowaiye / Reuters Three fire breathers perform at the closing ceremony of the ECOWAS Africa Wrestling Tournament. They are surrounded by a giant panda and gorilla costume - Saturday 8 March 2025.Marvellous Durowaiye / Reuters
Fire breathers impress the crowd at the closing ceremony of the Ecowas Africa Wrestling Tournament, which brings together the best wrestlers from across West Africa, in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.
AFP An aerial image of several Sudanese men sitting on colourful rugs as they prepare to eat the food spread out on multiple platters - Friday 7 March 2025.AFP
Sudanese men get ready to break their fast during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, on Friday.
Zohra Bensemra / Reuters Men wearing green and white outfits perform religious chants in Touba, Senegal - Friday 7 March 2025.Zohra Bensemra / Reuters
In Senegal's holy city of Touba, disciples from the Baye Fall group, a branch of the Muslim Mouride brotherhood, perform religious chants during Ramadan.
Donwilson Odhiambo / Getty Image A barber cuts a client's hair at the re-opening of a barber shop in Nairobi, Kenya - Friday 7 March 2025Donwilson Odhiambo / Getty Image
A barber concentrates intensely while he cuts renowned visual artist Coster Ojwang's hair at the relaunch of the Barber Yao shop, in Kenya's capital, Nairobi.
Kim Ludbrook / EPA Three women wearing pink traditional attire for the Indian festival Holi pose for a picture - Sunday 9 March 2025.Kim Ludbrook / EPA
The Hindu festival of Holi is in full swing in the South African city of Johannesburg on Sunday as three dancers, pretty in pink, get ready to light up the stage with their vibrant moves...
Rajesh Jantilal / AFP A youngster has yellow powder paint thrown at her during the Holi festivities in Durban, South Africa - Thursday 13 March 2025Rajesh Jantilal / AFP
Celebrations continue, a few days later in Durban, which has one of the largest population of Indian origin outside India itself, where a young girl has powder paint thrown on her.
Seyllou / AFP Five performers kneel on stage during the performance. The actor in the centre wears white as a man behind him in green points a dagger to his throat. Either side of them are two actors in blue - Saturday 8 March 2025.Seyllou / AFP
Senegalese comedians take part in a performance based on the classic novel L'Aventure Ambiguë - about a young boy who loses touch with his roots - by Cheikh Hamidou Kane, in the capital, Dakar.
Samba Balde / AFP Two members of the Netos de Bandim, a cultural group in Guinea-Bissau, smile at the camera, during the street parade in the capital Bissau - Friday 7 March 2025.Samba Balde / AFP
Members of the Netos de Bandim, a cultural group in Guinea-Bissau, take part in the annual street carnival to showcase their heritage.

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