In the 2023 edition of the Sony World Photography Awards, Bongani Tshabala was declared the winner of the National Award for his work titled “Great Joy.” Born in South Africa and raised in the Free State, Bongani is a self-taught art photographer and storyteller with a portfolio that has garnered national and international acclaim at events such as the New Breed Art Competition, the William Humphreys Art Gallery Online Group Show, the Turbine Art Fair, the Lensculture Awards, and most recently, the Sony World Photography Awards.
For the second year in a row, Bongani bagged the prestigious Sony World Photography National Award for his unique style of telling stories of the African continent in contemporary fashion. The Sony World Photography Award is a 15-year-old initiative of the World Photography Organization and is sponsored by the entertainment company Sony. According to a report by the Museum of Photographic Arts, the award program is described as “bringing together compelling stories from around the globe” which “pushes the boundaries of creativity and shows the depth and versatility of the medium.”
In its fifteen years of existence, the Sony World Photography Awards has recognized many artists and photographers across the world through competitions in four categories: Professional, Youth, Student, and Open competitions. South African photographer Bongani Tshabala won in the “Open” category for the 2023 edition award, which saw the participation of photographers from over 200 countries and over 400 images submitted for consideration. This feat has earned Bongani the grand prize of Sony digital imaging equipment and an exclusive feature in the Sony World Awards Photography exhibition and subsequent publication.
Bongani Tshabala has described his work as a means to connect with subjects, and his unique style of visually striking photography portrays subjects in a heroic light. In response to his win at the Sony World Photography Awards 2023, Bongani Tshabala expressed gratitude for being shortlisted and expressed the occasion as a rare opportunity for global recognition for him and his work.
“My work gives voice to the unheard stories of contemporary youth and serves as a guide to being hope back into black lives by cherishing each moment, not with the mindset of an adult, but with the fresh eyes and imagination of a child.” Apart from the award-winning “Great Joy,” Bongani’s other works include “Serenity,” “Imvuseselo,” “A Sense of Belonging,” “A Portrait of Grey,” and “Mask of Masculinity.”
