| Sani Mohammed Maikatanga (photojournalist) | |
| Birth Name: | Sani Mohammed Maikatanga |
| Birth Date: | 1975 8, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Nasarawa, Kano, Nigeria |
| Known For: | Argungu Fishing Festival Photojournalist |
| Education: | Federal College of Education Technical Bichi |
| Occupation: | Photojournalism, Photography |
| Years Active: | 1992–present |
| Spouse: | Salaha Muhammad |
| Children: | 4 |
| Father: | Alhaji Muhammadu Maikatanga |
| Mother: | Hajiya Hauwa Gumel |
| Awards: | See below |
Sani Mohammed Maikatanga (born 15 August 1975) is a Nigerian photographer[1] who won the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) Africa 2022 Photo Competition.[2] Maikatanga is best known for his work with indigenous people and isolated communities in northern Nigeria, as well as traditional activities and popular landscapes. His coverage of the popular Argungu fishing festival earned him the GLF Africa Award 2022 Photo Competition.[3]
Sani Maikatanga was born in Nasarawa Local Government, Kano State, Nigeria to Alhaji Muhammadu Maikatanga and Hajiya Hauwa Gumel. He attended Giginyu Special Primary School between 1983 and 1989, Government Secondary School Tarauni between 1989-1991 and took further education at Federal College of Education Technical Bichi where he read electrical engineering.
Maikatanga began his career after leaving school with Salisu Baso and Tijjani NTA studio in Kawo, then moved to Babson Studio on Laraba Road and Galaxy Photo Studio in Giginyu before venturing into photojournalism in 2000.
Maikatanga began his professional photography career in 2000 as a reporter and photographer for the popular Hausa movie publication FIM Magazine. He later worked as a freelance photojournalist for Leadership Newspaper from 2005 to 2006 before joining Media Trust, publishers of the award-winning Daily Trust newspaper, in 2009.
After leaving Media Trust in 2021, Sani Maikatanga established his own company, Sani Maikatanga Photography, and resumed his career as a photojournalist, focusing on indigenous people and isolated communities in northern Nigeria. Among his coverage was the popular Argungu Fishing Festival, which earned him an award with his photograph, Fishers on the Run, taken at the Argungu Festival, as the first winner after receiving the most votes.[4]
Maikatanga rose to prominence primarily through his horse racing photography, also known as Durbar in northern Nigeria. He also covers the majority of Niger Republic festival events, such as the Salt Cure Festival in In-Gall and the Bianou Festival in Agadez. Famous media outlets such as BBC Hausa, Media Trust,[5] Associated Press,[6] Deutsche Welle, Reuters,[7] New York Post,[8] and The Guardian[9] use his photographs.
Maikatanga is a well-known photographer in northern Nigeria who has become a household name among young people and women. He has received numerous awards, certificates, and recognition from various agencies and foreign missions, the most recent of which was from the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) Africa.[10]