Greater Govanhill contributor Sadia Sikandar wins international photography award

Jun 11

Greater Govanhill contributor and Photography Group member Sadia Sikandar has won international recognition at the World Food Photography Awards. Her award-winning image, taken at Govanhill's Qasba restaurant, explores themes of home, identity and belonging and comes ahead of a new local exhibition from the artist.

*A Moment in the Kitchen* by Sadia Sikandar won first prizes in the Food as Home Category of the World Photography Awards

Greater Govanhill contributor and Photography Group member Sadia Sikandar has won first and second place in the Home category at the prestigious World Food Photography Awards, one of the world's leading photography competitions.

Sadia's award-winning photograph, A Moment in the Kitchen, was taken at Qasba, the Algerian and North African restaurant on Allison Street and features its founder Louisa Boulazreg.

The image was recognised in the newly created Food as Home category, sponsored by UK for UNHCR, which celebrates the powerful connection between food, identity and belonging. The category highlights how food can help refugees maintain a connection to their home country while creating a sense of belonging in a new place. Sadia also won second place in the same category.

Explaining the inspiration behind her photograph, Sadia said that after living in the UK for seven years, "home" no longer represents a geographical place, but somewhere she feels welcome, valued and able to make good memories.

Describing Qasba, she said: "This is a place I pass by whenever I have time; I sit with the restaurant owner, and we gossip and laugh a lot. The place and the people make me feel at home."

The achievement marks another milestone for Sadia, who is a regular contributor to Greater Govanhill and an active member of the Greater Govanhill Photography Group. Earlier this year she gave a presentation to the group showcasing her photography documenting protests, campaigns and community action across Glasgow.

In 2025, Sadia also won the Refugee Festival Scotland Media Awards Independent Media category for her article Facing Hatred With Hope, published in Greater Govanhill magazine.

Read more: ‘Voices like mine deserve to be heard’: Greater Govanhill celebrates double win for refugee reporting

Speaking about her latest success, Sadia said: "I feel truly blessed. It was a dream that has finally come true. As a refugee in Scotland, I am proud to have represented Scotland on an international platform."

The award comes as Sadia prepares to launch her new Refugee Week exhibition, Stories of Food and Belonging, which explores culture, identity, belonging and community through photography.

Reflecting this year's Refugee Week theme of Courage, the exhibition uses food, cultural dress and photography to share personal stories from refugee and asylum-seeking communities across Scotland, celebrating the richness and diversity they bring to communities across the country.

The exhibition opens at Coffee and Zikr, 84 Niddrie Road, from 13–17 June, running daily from 12pm–4pm. Located opposite Qasba, the venue provides a fitting setting for an exhibition centred on food, community and belonging. The exhibition will then move to the Crypt Café at Wellington Church, 77 Southpark Avenue, from 18–20 June, where it will be open from 9.30am–4.30pm.