Quelle meilleure façon de mettre en valeur votre travail qu'à travers un concours de photographie ?
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Les photographes à succès du monde entier ont souvent été découverts après avoir soumis leurs œuvres à des concours de photographie. En participant à ce concours, vous pouvez tenter de remporter le 1er prix (200.000 ETB) et, si vous figurez parmi les finalistes , vos photos seront présentées dans une exposition collective en novembre 2026. 
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Ce concours photo vous offre l'opportunité de gagner en visibilité et de présenter vos plus belles images à un large public.

About the Contest

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The Ethio‑French Alliance of Dire Dawa, in collaboration with the Arthur Rimbaud Cultural Center of Harar, is launching the 1st edition of its Photography Contest.

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This edition is part of the Bicentennial of Photography (2026–2027) celebrated by France and invites young photographers of Generation Z (ages 18–25 ), amateurs, students, artists or professionnals to explore how heritage lives, transforms, and moves in the cities of Harar and Dire Dawa.

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This competition invites participants — young amateurs, students, artists, and image professionals — to explore, through a documentary or artistic approach, how Generation Z reclaims the tangible and intangible heritage of Ethiopia in all its geographic and cultural diversity.

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Originally conceived around the cities of Harar and Dire Dawa, the competition now extends its scope to the entire Ethiopian territory.

Harar and Dire Dawa remain the founding and emblematic cities of this inaugural edition: Dire Dawa, a modern city born with the Franco-Ethiopian railway, and Harar (Jugol), a millennia-old fortified city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together constitute an exceptionally rich visual terrain. They remain at the heart of the exhibition framework and the main prize categories.

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But Ethiopia does not end in the East.

From the high plateaus to the Great Rift Valley, from the ancient kingdoms of Axum and Gondar to the border markets of the Ogaden, from Lake Tana to the forests of Kaffa, every region of the country holds heritage assets — natural, architectural, living, intangible — that a generation's gaze can capture, question, and reinvent.

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Theme: Moving Heritages

How do the Gen Z, young people, see their cities today?
How do they reconnect with traditions, memories, rituals, and urban spaces?

Through photography, participants are invited to propose new visual narratives on:

• The material heritage of Harar and Dire Dawa (Cat.A) and of all other cities in Ethiopia (Cat.B) 
  (architecture, urban spaces, clothing, jewelry, food, crafts, artworks…)

• The living and intangible heritage
  (rituals, celebrations, music, dance, oral traditions, religious events, poetry, collective memories…)

• The interactions between youth and heritage, between past and present, tradition and transformation.
   

This is not a postcard or touristic contest.

We are looking for personal, creative, and meaningful images that reflect your vision, your voice, and your generation.

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New Competition Structure — Two Geographic Categories

Category A — Founding Cities: Harar & Dire Dawa

Open to photographers working specifically on the cities of Harar and Dire Dawa. This category forms the historical core of the inaugural edition and carries the main prizes (1st, 2nd and 3rd place).

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Category B — Ethiopia

Open to all photographers residing in Ethiopia who wish to document heritage assets — tangible, intangible or natural — in any region of the country, following the same thematic framework as Category A. The best works in Category B will be recognised with an Ethiopia Prize (see regulations) and included in the collective November 2026 exhibition.

Note to candidates from the founding cities:

The  candidates who submitted their work before the opening of the expanded national category compete fully within Category A, with all associated benefits. The geographic expansion does not alter their status or the evaluation criteria applied to their works.

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Why Participate?

Every day, millions of images circulate on social media. Among them, some stand out—free, bold, and inventive. This contest aims to:

• Highlight emerging Gen Z talents

• Encourage creative and documentary photography

• Question how heritage is transmitted, transformed, and re‑imagined

• Create a space where youth, photography, and heritage meet

Participating also means joining a community of young creators and sharing your work with a professional jury.

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Who Can Apply?

The contest is open to all:

• Youth (age 18-25)

• Students

• Photography experts and professionals

• Emerging artists

• Amateurs & Enthusiasts

All photographic styles are welcome, including: street photography, portrait, black & white, urban landscape, photojournalism, fashion, still life, conceptual or contemporary photography.​​

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Beyond the Contest​
 

The Ethio‑French Alliance (AEF), with the support of the Cultural and Cooperation Service of the French Embassy, will also identify promising talents among the participants and may offer:

• Professional development support

• Assistance for exhibitions

• Training opportunities and internships

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Ready to Participate?

📸 Show us how heritage moves through your eyes.
📍 ETHIOPIA 
🎞 Generation Z — 1st Edition, 2026

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Deadline: October 30, 2026

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