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Africa's week in pictures: 15-21 October 2021

A selection of the best photos from the African continent and beyond.

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Getty Images A man dressed in black smiles as he walks past rows of colourful paintings.Getty Images
A man walks past paintings for sale by the roadside in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, on Monday.
Reuters A protestor in Abuja shouts and holds a placard that reads "say no to police brutality".Reuters
Two days later, Nigerians across the country take to the streets to voice their outrage at the lack of progress made against police brutality since the killing of peaceful #EndSARS protesters exactly one year ago.
Reuters A man works at the Chouara Tannery in Fez.Reuters
On Saturday a man treats leather at one of the oldest tanneries in Morocco's northern city of Fez.
AFP A model gets ready in the backstage area during the third edition of East Africa International Fashion Week in Nairobi, on October 16, 2021. - The annual fashion event created by a former Kenyan model attracts fashion enthusiasts and buyers to see six different collections by designers from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.AFP
On the same day, a model gets ready backstage at East Africa International Fashion Week...
AFP Models talk in the backstage area during the third edition of East Africa International Fashion Week in Nairobi, on October 16, 2021. - The annual fashion event created by a former Kenyan model attracts fashion enthusiasts and buyers to see six different collections by designers from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.AFP
The event is in its third year...
AFP People watch a model on a runway at East Africa International Fashion Week.AFP
And Saturday's catwalk in Nairobi showcased designers from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
EPA An Asec Mimosas supporter in yellow, black and white.EPA
A supporter of Asec Mimosas wears team colours, as the Ivorian side take on CR Belouizdad of Algeria in the African Champions League on Saturday in Abidjan.
EPA A blue car parks in front of pink and green houses.EPA
On the same day in South Africa, a man parks his car in the Bo-Kaap neighbourhood of Cape Town...
EPA A bridal party walks up from the beach.EPA
Not far away, a bridal party leaves Camps Bay beach after a Saturday wedding...
EPA Runner line up ahead of the Cape Town Marathon.EPA
Then on Sunday, Cape Town hosts a marathon.
AFP Sudanese protesters take part in a sit-in.AFP
On Saturday, people demonstrate in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, urging the army to take control. But days later counter-protesters turn out in support of the country's transitional government established in 2019.
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Reuters Musicians play during a demonstration by supporters of opposition leader Martin Fayulu, against changes to the independence of the country's electoral commission, in Kinshasa.Reuters
There are also protests on Saturday in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo as opposition supporters demand a neutral election commission.
AFP Ibrahim, a spear-fisherman, poses for a portrait along the coastline of Dakar.AFP
Senegalese fisherman Ibrahim poses with his catch on the coast of Dakar on Tuesday.
Getty Images A woman takes a photo of Ben Enwonwu's The Court of the Oba of Benin.Getty Images
On Saturday in London, Nigerian painter Ben Enwonwu's The Court of the Oba of Benin goes on view at Sotheby's auction house.
AFP Women take a selfie next to a poster.AFP
Saturday also sees the opening of the Fespaco film festival in Burkina Faso, where a few days later two visitors are caught in the act of taking a selfie...
AFP An attendee wears a protective face mask with an image of Burkina Faso's former President Thomas Sankara.AFP
The pan-African film festival takes place each year in the country, this time coinciding with the opening of the murder trial of much-loved former President Thomas Sankara, seen on this mask, whose 1987 death shocked the continent...
Getty Images Three girls hug each other and smile.Getty Images
Three girls pose for the camera in Lomé, Togo, on Wednesday.
PA Archivist Robert Athol with a bronze statue of a cockerel called The Okukor, one of the Benin Bronzes.PA
An archivist at Jesus College, in the UK's University of Cambridge, handles the famous bronze cockerel on Friday. In a fortnight it will hand back the sculpture which was originally seized by British troops from the Kingdom of Benin in present-day Nigeria.
AFP A wreath of flowers is pictured on a bridge above the Seine river.AFP
And in Paris on Sunday, people lay a wreath in memory of Algerians murdered by French police 60 years ago whose deaths were then covered up. At least 100 people were killed, some of whom were thrown into the River Seine to drown them.

All pictures subject to copyright.