Announcing the 2026 No! Wahala Documentary Photography Mentorship Cohort

We are proud to introduce the seven photographers selected for the very first No! Wahala Documentary Photography Mentorship Programme.

This year-long initiative was created to support emerging and mid-career African photographers committed to long-term visual storytelling, ethical practice, and building work that speaks. Over the next twelve months, these photographers will develop ambitious documentary projects while taking part in monthly workshops, portfolio reviews, and intimate sessions with industry professionals. Their journey will culminate in a final body of work to be published in No! Wahala Magazine.

You can learn more about the programme here.

Our 2026 cohort represents voices from across East, West, South and North Africa. Each photographer brings a distinct approach to documenting people, place, memory, and social change.

Photo: Allan Aligula

Allan Aligula. Kenya

Allan Aligula is a Kenyan visual storyteller whose practice grew from moments of trial, wandering, and quiet observation. Drawn to what he calls the intentional mundane, Allan photographs everyday life as a way to explore culture, emotion, and meaning. His work centres on identity and place, blending documentary and artistic approaches to preserve stories, celebrate community, and frame ordinary moments with purpose.

Photo: Kondwani Jere

Kondwani Jere. Malawi

Based in Lilongwe, Kondwani Jere works between street photography and documentary practice. His photographs focus on public space, daily routines, and how people inhabit their environments. Much of his process begins with walking, spending time in a place, and observing before making images. Through this slow engagement, Kondwani builds work rooted in presence, patience, and close attention to everyday life.

Photo: Taslimah Woli

Taslimah Woli. Nigeria

Taslimah Woli is a Lagos-based photographer and architect whose work explores the relationship between people and the built environment. With a first-class honours degree in Architecture, she brings structural precision to her photographic practice, documenting overlooked spaces such as bridges, corridors, bus stops, and everyday infrastructure.

Influenced by JD Okhai Ojeikere, Rachel Seidu, and AbdulHamid Kanu, her work favours showing rather than telling, revealing how communities adapt to and are shaped by architectural spaces. Her photo essays have appeared in Lolwe Magazine, Isele Magazine, and JayLIT. She is currently developing The Perimeter Project, an Art X-funded visual archive of architectural landscapes in Southwest Nigeria.

Taslimah is deeply interested in ethical storytelling and long-term engagement. She often returns to the same places over time, allowing familiarity and trust to shape the work, and is drawn to projects that grow through repetition, presence, and attention.

Photo: Hickmatu Leigh

Hickmatu Leigh. Sierra Leone

Hickmatu Leigh is an artist, photographer, filmmaker, and feminist activist from Sierra Leone whose work focuses on the lives of girls and women. With a background in public health, she combines visual storytelling with social justice advocacy, challenging oppressive systems and entrenched social norms.

Her award-winning practice includes recognition from the Women Deliver Arts and Film Festival and the UN Foundation’s SDG Vanguard Award. Hickmatu is currently expanding into short filmmaking, continuing her commitment to amplifying African women’s voices and fostering inclusion through storytelling.

Photo: Amera Elnaal

Amera Elnaal. Libya

Amera Elnaal is a Libyan documentary photographer and journalist exploring disability, environment, and social justice through intimate and investigative storytelling. Her projects include The Salt Ate Away Her Eyes, which documents the daily lives of her blind parents, and Brighter Than Sight, examining how visually impaired individuals perceive and reimagine the world.

A participant in programmes such as AFAC, ADPP and the ICP International Class Online, Amera’s work combines rigorous research with close personal narratives. Through exhibitions, publications, and multimedia approaches, she seeks to challenge dominant representations and create inclusive spaces where overlooked voices can be seen and heard.

Photo: Alfred Jjuuko

Alfred Jjuuko. Uganda

Alfred Jjuuko is a multidisciplinary creative and cultural documentarian based in Uganda. Working across photography, videography, research, and archival practice, his work explores history, memory, and social narratives.

He is the founder of FFENE Productions, a creative company dedicated to visual storytelling and historical documentation. Alongside his own practice, Alfred is involved in cultural preservation initiatives, exhibitions, and educational projects that seek to safeguard and reimagine African histories for present and future generations.

Photo: Oghenemaro Akpobasaha

Oghenemaro Akpobasaha. Nigeria

Oghenemaro Akpobasaha, also known as Akpobasaha Oghenemaro Godspower, is a Nigerian photographer interested in documenting personal, societal, and cultural stories. He has been photographing for eight years, with the last three focused on developing his voice as a storyteller. His work reflects a growing commitment to long-form projects and the use of photography as a tool for reflection and social enquiry.

A Year of Growth, Challenge, and Community

Over the next twelve months, our mentees will:

• Develop a long-term documentary project

• Take part in monthly workshops and critiques

• Receive guidance from industry specialists

• Build a strong and distinctive photographic voice

• Produce a final body of work for publication in No! Wahala Magazine

We are excited to support, challenge, and champion this cohort, and to share their progress with our community throughout the year.