Grand prize winner announced for the Best Photo of the Year at the 2019 Agora Awards

Just one day before the shoot, I met Rockson, a friend I had made on the Agora platform who happened to visit Ghana, his home country. Surprisingly, he had brought his own violin with him, so I asked him to bring it along the next day for a shoot I had planned. We got to Labadi the next day where we met the 5 young amazing boys. In order to get the image  as real and natural as possible without losing the most important aspect of who they really are, I asked my friend  to teach them the basics on how to hold the violin, the perfect hand positions and I saw that one of the boys had the strongest expression with the violin, which was perfectly aligned with my vision for the photograph.

Michael Aboya, Agora Awards 2019 winner 

"Songs Of Freedom is a striking image, with strong contrasts and an intelligent composition. A topless african child plays the violin under a wide sky that indicates a sunrise or sunset; the beginning or end of an era. Behind him are four more children with their fist raised and their eyes closed, enjoying the melody played by their companion. A melody that sounds like the conquest of a just future, that gives off intellectuality, pacifism, effort and dignity. It is an image full of symbols that declare that Africa is awake and  will be the protagonist of a hopeful future. For me, Sounds of Freedom is an intelligent visual manifesto of a current reality and, at the same time, an optimistic and dignified message about the future.

Octavi Royo, Agora's CEO and Co-Founder

After I purchased my first camera, the next step was to join a photography school, but the fees made that impossible. So I invested a lot of time reading about photography, and watching YouTube videos on how professional photographers shot and used different kinds of lighting to their advantage. I would then go out with my camera to practice by shooting anything I found interesting, and then go home and do some editing. I kept doing this over and over again until I gradually started getting good at it.

Michael Aboya, Agora Awards 2019 winner

I believe that when BIPOC (Black and Indigenous People of Colour) tell their own stories, they can present the country and continent differently to the world, showing the love, peace, and harmony, and making the bright side a little bit more, putting the dark side behind it.  I created this image to emphasize the fact that we have the power to free ourselves from any form of mental, physical, spiritual and emotional captivity.

Michael Aboya, Agora Awards 2019 winner

With the prize money, I'll be able to invest into my photography by getting gears i need. I'll invest into learning videography, putting my visions into moving pictures, visiting new places I have never been to capture the beautiful people and their colorful stories, support my family and give back to the community of youths.

Michael Aboya, Agora Awards 2019 winner

Agora is built between all: we want to empower people all over the world, because we believe that every point of view is important. We're creating a global democratic system where everyone can create, vote and enjoy the best creations of Humanity.

Octavi Royo, Agora's CEO and Co-Founder