"Day in the Life^® " is the largest photography event in history, recording the culture of countries from around the world for 20 years. Celebrated photojournalists from around the world disperse throughout various countries and regions and use their cameras to capture the characteristics of one day. To date this event has been held 13 times in places such as America, China, Russia and Japan and on each occasion all of the images were published as a photo book, selling more than 3.5 million copies worldwide.

"A Day in the Life of Africa" was held on February 28, 2002 with nearly 100 photographers from 26 countries around the world using the 53 countries of the African continent as the backdrop. David Cohen, who has worked as director in the "A Day in the Life" project to date, once more served as the project director with Lee Lieberman as the producer. The photo book is published in America, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

* A Day in the Life^® of is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Publishers.

"A Day in the Life of Africa" gives us a complex and nuanced portrait. These beautiful and deeply moving images compel us to see that despite the tragedy that afflicts some parts of the continent, the bright spots must not be forgotten, nor the achievements overlooked. The vast majority of Africans are striving to bring positive change to their countries and in many places these efforts are beginning to bear fruit. The United Nations, for its part, has long championed African rights, progress, and self-sufficiency. I hope that people of goodwill throughout the world will see the great dignity and resilience of my fellow Africans, and join them in their struggle for the chance to create a better life that is every human being's birthright.

Olympus is honored to have been involved in "A Day in the Life of Africa", the most wide-ranging photographic look at Africa to date. As one of the official underwriting sponsors and exclusive digital camera provider, Olympus took on the challenge of making the first digital "Day in the Life" possible. Our involvement in "A Day in the Life of Africa" was about more than the technology. It afforded us the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the efforts of the African people in fighting and eventually eradicating the AIDS virus that plagues the African continent. Technology alone does not drive the world forward. It takes people: people who have a vision of a better future and are prepared to set goals and dedicate themselves to achieving these goals at any cost. In Africa and around the world, we believe it is people like this who bring about real, meaningful change that benefits us all.