Cairo —
For World Population Day, CNN asked three photographers in Africa to give us a glimpse of what it's like living in some of the continent's most crowded cities. Cairo, for instance, is home to 12 million people, and the constant throng means it can be difficult for residents to stop. Photographer Nabeela Akhtar and graphic designer Omair Barkatulla have created a series of photographic collages called "A Cairo Minute," in which the celebrate the city's frenetic pace.
"As in any busy city, in any given place, people come and go," says Barkatulla.
"Life plays out in front of us and these scenes try to solve the problem of the limited frame of a still camera, making the results like a short clip of film in a still picture or a story board."
Al Azhar Mosque, Cairo —
Usually, says Barkatulla, mosques represent a respite. During the holy month of Ramadan, this isn't always possible. "In Ramadan mosques are packed with men and women into the late night," he says.
Al Azhar Park, Cairo —
There are still alcoves of calm, however, and Al Azhar Park is one of them. "Al Azhar Park is one of the very rare parks in dense and concrete-heavy Cairo," notes Barkatulla.
Cairo —
Barkatulla and Akhtar enjoy the "fragmented" look of their work."We shamelessly edit in and edit out. We wait for things to happen and build up the collage. Edges are missing and often people look incomplete, but that is all part of the experience," says Barkatulla.
El Fishawy Cafe, Cairo —
El Fishawy Cafe is always exceptionally busy, and iconic among locals and tourists alike. "With so many tourists, neighboring cafes pretend to be El Fishawy," says Barkatulla.
El Fishawy, Cairo —
"Cairo is always full of people and you are conscious of it at every moment," says Barkatulla. Still, he notes, "in the poorer areas, people always know their neighbors."
Qaitbey Mosque, Cairo —
Public areas often get reused in Cairo. In the ruins of the neglected Qaitbey Mosque, for instance, children have set up a soccer pitch.
Pop-up snooker, Cairo —
A pap-per-play snooker shop popped up on the street one day. Barkatulla says it's not uncommon for faded, disused furniture to find another use. "When millions of people live in one place, someone is bound to need discarded things," he says.
Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos —
Photographer Andrew Esiebo has made it a mission to capture the rapid development of urban Nigeria, in particular his hometown: Lagos. "Lagos has long been one of the fastest growing cities in the world. But every time you look at it, it changes even more, and the people change with it," he says.
From one of Lagos' high-rises, he captured this image of the Third Mainland Bridge.
"It is a reflection of where the city started as well it's commercial center," he says.
Makoko, Lagos —
Makoko is one of Lagos' most famous (or infamous) sights. By some estimates, 250,000 people live in the floating slum. "When people visit Lagos, they immediately go to Makoko and all they pay attention to is the bad parts," notes Esiebo.
"I was more interested in showing the resilience of the people that live there, the people that still have hope, so I focused on education and the schools. Education is the only way that you can escape the poverty line," he adds.
Pentecostal gathering, Lagos —
Esiebo says he was drawn to the large crowds that Pentecostal gatherings attract in Lagos. "I never saw a crowd like this growing up catholic," he recalls.
"(In the Pentecostal faith), the use of the crowd is very important. Called 'crusades', they are organized across the country, where these huge crowds ignite their faiths and seek spiritual solutions."
Balogun Textile Market, Lagos —
"For me, the Balogun Textile Market is an expression of Lagos, the expression of a megacity," says Esiebo. The colorful fabrics, he note, can often be found on international fashion runways. Moreover, he finds the soul of the city can be expressed in the fabrics."I'm always drawn to the market, always drawn to the fabrics. For me, it's a reflection of the diversity and colorfulness of the city of Lagos."
Nollywood on the street, Lagos —
Nollywood, notes Esiebo, is one of Nigeria's biggest exports, and the local film industry holds a fascination for people throughout the country."In Lagos, you find it in every nook and cranny. On every corner, you'll find people watching a Nollywood movie. If someone can't afford a TV at home, you'll see them watching it in public spaces."
Traffic, Lagos —
"Lagos is a kind of functional chaotic mess," says Esiebo. "From faraway it looks chaotic, but you find a way to survive, to get to your destination."To emphasize this point, he talked his way to into a private building to capture the city's commercial nerve center from up high.
Congo business, Kinshasa, Congo —
Congo-born photographer Nganji likes finding subjects that seem isolate in the otherwise chaotic Congolese capital of Kinshasa. "I look for unusual public spots and act quickly to capture authentic street life moments before getting in trouble," he says.
"Population affects daily life in many ways or I should say life in Kinshasa affects population in many ways," says Nganji.
"For instance, the majority of economic activities are informal and most people apply creative tactics to cope with the revolting social inequalities."
"For instance, the majority of economic activities are informal and most people apply creative tactics to cope with the revolting social inequalities."
"Because of both international historical reasons and national leadership reasons, the lack of good infrastructure forces most Congolese to rely on the fictive but famous 'Article 15' to get by with anything they can," says Nganji. In Congolese pop culture, Article 15 refers to an imaginary act of the constitution that states "do what you must to live."
Kinshasa, Congo —
"In a crowded city Kinshasa, I find it more interesting to create images of 'virtually' isolated subjects. I guess it is a way of emphasizing my favorite indicator of democracy: the state of individual freedom," says Nganji.
Kinshasa, Congo —
Nganji says how he travels through the city affects how he views it. "Depending on whether I am in a private air-conditioned car, an overflowing public bus or on foot; I experience life in the capital differently, he notes.