Congolese photographer Aubin Mukoni<\/strong> was awarded a World Press Photo 2025<\/strong> for his series \u201cThe Lake Has Fallen Silent<\/strong> ,\u201d a visual dive into the heart of the environmental, human, and political issues surrounding Lake Kivu<\/strong> . Originally from Goma<\/strong> , Mukoni has been documenting the daily lives of those who live by the lake since 2020, while exposing the dramatic consequences of pollution and demographic pressure<\/strong> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through his photographs, he shows simple scenes of life<\/strong> \u2013 fishermen repairing their nets, children playing at the water’s edge, fish markets \u2013 while taking a concerned look at the decline in fish resources<\/strong> , particularly sambaza<\/strong> , these small fish so prized in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Mukoni, the rapidly expanding city of Goma<\/strong> , with more than a million inhabitants, dumps tons of waste<\/strong> into the lake every day, fueling increasing pollution<\/strong> . The influx of displaced people, a consequence of armed conflicts in eastern DRC, is increasing pressure on infrastructure. The photographer sees this as a collective emergency<\/strong> , a call for civic and institutional responsibility<\/strong> to preserve this essential ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The lake is falling silent. But it speaks through our silences,” he sums up.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n At just 25 years old<\/strong> , Mukoni already has a strong vision. The grandson of a photographer, he claims this artistic and activist heritage<\/strong> . Defining himself as an “advocacy agent<\/strong> ,” he wants to use photography as a tool for dialogue<\/strong> , to raise awareness and stimulate local debates<\/strong> on the environment and the rights of local communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The World Press Photo jury praised a ” powerful, sensitive and politically relevant<\/strong> ” work, which highlights the ecological and geopolitical issues<\/strong> linked to Lake Kivu, particularly in a tense context between the DRC and Rwanda<\/strong> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n By highlighting the fragility of Lake Kivu<\/strong> , Aubin Mukoni offers much more than a report: he sketches a visual chronicle of survival<\/strong> , dignity and resilience. Internationally acclaimed, his work embodies a new generation of committed African photographers<\/strong> , bearers of stories anchored in reality and turned towards the future. For him, this project is only the first chapter<\/strong> of a lasting commitment to serving his community and his environment<\/strong> .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A photographic warning about a jewel in peril Congolese photographer Aubin Mukoni was awarded a World Press Photo 2025 for his series \u201cThe Lake Has Fallen Silent ,\u201d a visual dive into the heart of the environmental, human, and political issues surrounding Lake Kivu . Originally from Goma , Mukoni has been documenting the daily lives of those who live by the lake since 2020, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8538,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-africa","category-miscellaneous"],"yoast_head":"\nA lake suffocated by urbanization<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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An inherited and committed photographic approach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n