Kenyan Girls’ Photo Wins Sony World Photography Awards
The Sony World Photography Awards announced its winners on April 14, 2023, and taking the coveted first place in the creative section was South African photographer Lee-Ann Olwage with her series of pictures titled “The Right to Play.”
Olwage’s striking images depict the lives of young Kenyan girls who have escaped female genital mutilation (FGM) and early childhood marriage, capturing their empowered and affirming world.
Olwage collaborated with Kakenya’s Dream in Enoosaen, Kenya, for this project. Kakenya’s Dream is a school that serves as a rescue center for young girls who have escaped troubles at home, such as FGM and early pregnancy.
The school, founded by Dr. Kakenya Ntaiya in 2008, aims to empower girls in rural Kenya through education, providing them with a supportive environment to continue their learning and pursue their dreams.
The series of photos by Olwage showcases the resilience and joy of these young girls as they play, learn, and thrive in a safe and nurturing environment.
Through her lens, Olwage captures the spirit of these girls who have overcome immense challenges and are now experiencing the right to simply be children, free from harmful practices like FGM and early marriage.
The Sony World Photography Awards, a prestigious event that has been celebrating outstanding photography for 15 years, recognizes Olwage’s powerful storytelling and artistic skills in capturing the essence of these young girls’ lives.
Kenyan Girls’ Photo Wins Sony World Photography Awards
Her photos not only depict the struggles they have overcome but also highlight their strength, resilience, and potential as they embrace their right to play, learn, and grow.
Olwage’s work is part of a larger global movement to raise awareness about the harmful practices of FGM and early marriage and to empower girls and women to live fulfilling lives.
On March 8, 2023, prominent figures like Michelle Obama, Melinda Gates, and Amal Clooney wrote an article in Time Magazine, applauding Dr. Kakenya and her team for their social impact through Kakenya’s Dream.
Lee-Ann Olwage’s award-winning photos also shine a spotlight on the positive social impact of individuals like Elijah Nyaanga, a Kenyan journalist who recently won the Forty Under 40 Africa journalism award for founding Scholar Media Africa.
Nyaanga’s achievement further puts Kenya on the world map for its efforts in creating meaningful change in the lives of its people.
Kenyan Girls’ Photo Wins Sony World Photography Awards