Swimming santa and dazzling dancers: Africa's top shots

A selection of the week's best photos from across the African continent and beyond:

South African aquarist Mthobisi Mlambo, strikes a pose as Santa with a Thorntail stingray during a show at Africa's largest marine park - uShaka Sea World in Durban.

The festive spirit also fills the Abidjan markets in Ivory Coast as vendors stock up on endless Christmas merchandise in preparation for the holidays.

On Saturday, runners from around the world compete in the Marakez Pyramids Half Marathon in Giza, set against the ancient wonders of the pyramids of Egypt...

During the marathon, a tourist and a camel strike a pose.

On the same day, in southern Egypt, a worker gathers limestone at the "White Mountain'' quarry near the city of Minya.

On Monday, aerial performers dazzle at an all-human circus in Johannesburg, South Africa.

A model shows off her paper plates- and cutlery-inspired dress at the 11th edition of the South Sudan Theatre Awards 2024 (STA), in Nairobi, Kenya on Wednesday.

The vibrant beauty of the Maasai people shines as women don their traditional attire at the lively social sporting event dubbed the Maasai Olympics in Kajiado, Kenya...

A Maasai warrior competes in a traditional high-jump event...

The Mbirikani Manyatta village holds the trophy in triumph as they celebrate being named the overall winners of the Maasai Olympics 2024.

From the BBC in Africa this week:

• 'I thought I would die' - freed captive tells BBC of life in West African jihadist base

• The city where shopkeepers fear their CCTV cameras could get them killed

• West African bloc pins hopes on ambitious superhighway from Ivory Coast to Nigeria

• 'I wasn't me any more' - a photographer tackles her postnatal depression

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

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