/ 2025 / /

• Prize
  Curator Selection
• Photographer
  Denys Kutsevalov, Singapore
• Category
  Africa
• Studio
  Nomads.Wtf

Madagascar is believed to supply around 40% of the world’s sapphires — a staggering figure for a country where most mining is done by hand. This photo story takes you into the heart of Ilakaka, capturing the quiet intensity of the hunt for these coveted gems. It reveals the raw, unfiltered reality behind the sparkle. Miners, often working without protective gear or stable income, labor under harsh conditions. Madagascar’s sapphires may light up luxury showcases around the world, but their journey begins in fragile soil, shaped by resilience, risk, and hope.

Denys Kutsevalov is a Ukrainian award-winning documentary photographer, explorer of connections between people, cultures and the environment