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Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Africa - amid coronavirus

Muslims across Africa - and the world - are celebrating Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

News imageReuters Muslim faithful embrace before performing the Eid al-Fitr prayers, marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, outside a mosque closed amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Nairobi, Kenya, May 24, 2020.Reuters
These Muslims embraced outside a mosque in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi...
News imageReuters Muslim faithful perform Eid al-Fitr prayers, marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, at a courtyard within their home as mosques remain closed amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Nairobi, Kenya, May 24, 2020.Reuters
All places of worship are officially closed in Kenya to prevent the spread of coronavirus, so these men prayed in a courtyard outside their house instead...
News imageReuters Muslim faithful observe social distancing as they perform Eid al-Fitr prayers, marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, inside a mosque closed amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Nairobi, Kenya, May 24, 2020.Reuters
These men did manage to find a way of praying inside a mosque in Nairobi but at least they were keeping their distance.
News imageBBC Worshippers in the Gaddafi mosque in Tanzania's capital DodomaBBC
In neighbouring Tanzania, mosques and other places of worship remain open. Sunday is also the culmination of three days of thanksgiving declared by President John Magufuli because of what he says is a decline in cases of coronavirus, even though his government has stopped releasing figures...
News imageBBC Tanzania's Prime Minister Kaasim Majaaliwa being greeted outside the mosqueBBC
Tanzanian Prime Minister Kaasim Majaaliwa (right) was maintaining a social distance as he arrived at Gaddafi mosque in the capital Dodoma. In his speech, he urged the faithful to continue taking precautions, while worshippers did not shake hands as they normally do at Eid.
News imageReuters Children are seen on a motorbike after Muslims in Nigeria perform Eid prayer following the global outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Nasarawa May 24, 2020.Reuters
Eid, known in Nigeria as Sallah, is a time when children often get new clothes, which they wear to the mosque. This stylish family was pictured sitting on a motorbike after prayers...
News imageAFP A boy performs the ritual ablutions before praying at a mosque to celebrate Eid al-Fitr at a mosque in Kara Ibafo in Ogun State, on May 24, 2020.AFP
Before praying, Muslims must perform ritual ablutions, as this boy is doing outside a mosque in Kara Ibafo in Ogun state...
News imageReuters Muslims in Nigeria perform Eid prayer after the lockdown following the global outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Nasarawa, Nigeria May 24, 2020.Reuters
Muslims in Nigeria were also urged to celebrate Eid at home but people still gathered to perform their prayers as usual outside this mosque in Nasarawa state...
News imageAFP Worshippers gather to perform a prayer to celebrate Eid al-Fitr in Kara Ibafo in Ogun State, on May 24, 2020.AFP
While these Muslims in Ogun state managed to find somewhere to keep their distance...
News imageReuters Worshippers gather to perform a prayer to celebrate Eid al-Fitr in Kara Ibafo in Ogun State, on May 24, 2020.Reuters
It is generally the men who gather to pray outside but this group of women and children also took part in Ogun state.
News imageAFP Muslim worshippers gather for the prayers of Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday which starts at the conclusion of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in the district of Jureif Gharb of Sudan"s capital Khartoum early on May 24, 2020, despite government regulations banning congregations due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.AFP
Sudan's government has banned large gathering but the message hasn't got through to these people in the capital, Khartoum...
News imageAFP Man in facemask praying in KhartoumAFP
At least some in Khartoum were wearing face masks.
News imageBBC Presentational white space
News imageAFP Followers of the Layene community wearing protective masks take place on the beach in front of the Yoff Layene Mosque, during the Islamic festivity of Korite in Dakar, Senegal, on May 24, 2020,AFP
In Senegal's capital, Dakar, mosques have been allowed to reopen but members of the Layene brotherhood gathered on the beach, as they always do to celebrate what is known locally as Korité. This year, however, they maintained a social distance...
News imageAFP A member of the Layene community prays on the beach in front of the Yoff Layene Mosque, during the Islamic festivity of Korite in Dakar, Senegal, on May 24, 2020,AFP
Some more than others.
News imageAFP This picture taken on May 24, 2020 on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday which starts at the conclusion of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, shows a view of a deserted alley outside the Zitouna mosque in the Medina (old town) of the Tunisian capital Tunis.AFP
In North Africa, where coronavirus has killed far more people than elsewhere on the continent, the situation looked rather different - the Zitouna mosque in the Medina (old town) of Tunisia's capital would normally be crammed with worshippers during Eid al-Fitr...
News imageReuters A view of the closed Al-Azhar mosque during Eid al-Fitr, a Muslim festival marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Cairo, Egypt, May 24, 2020.Reuters
As would the famous Al-Azhar mosque in Egypt's capital, Cairo.

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