Nigerian photographer captures Maiduguri life beyond Boko Haram

Nigerian photographer captures Maiduguri life beyond Boko Haram

|Twins Maryam and Fatima in the northern Nigerian city of Maiduguri Text by Sarah LEDUC Latest update : 2016-09-23 Maiduguri, Nigeria, capital of the northern state of Borno, has become almost synonymous with
Boko Haram. But one photojournalist is trying to change that – by taking pictures that focus on life outside the Islamist militant group's violent acts. Type “Maiduguri” into a search engine, and a quick scan of the results will show the words most often associated with it: “explosion”, suicide attack” and, of course, “Boko Haram”. It is a city now known mainly for its violence. But photojournalist and humanitarian aid worker Fati Abubakar has sought to change that by capturing images of everyday life there. Laughing schoolchildren, an idle shopkeeper, a rapt classroom… Each photo transcends the violence endured by Maiduguri’s residents on an almost daily basis. Instead of focusing on the attacks, Abubakar has chosen to document development projects, international and local health initiatives, the know-how of local artisans or the hustle and bustle of the city’s streets.