Abdul Hamid Kanu – Hush! – Create* Inspire* Community* Art* Design* Music* Film* Photo* Project
A selection of the work of photographer Abdul Hamid Kanu. Kanu is from Freetown, Sierra Leone. Since returning to China in 2020, photography has become both a tool for recording and a way to reconnect with the city, its people and himself. His practice is rooted in everyday life and “moments that reveal who we are.” He explores themes of belonging, memory and history, using his lens to trace the intersection of the individual and the collective. Working primarily in black and white, Kanu aims to create a visual narrative that challenges stereotypes and preserves the texture of life in Sierra Leone for future generations:
“My parents were my first teachers who recognized the importance of memory. My father, an engineer with an archivist spirit, carefully preserved the small details of our family’s travels, and my mother worked in a photo studio, preserving our family albums. They were quietly dedicated to capturing me Their lives fueled my passion for photography. After studying in Turkey for a while, I realized how little the world knew about Sierra Leone, except for its history of conflict. I felt an urge to return home and document the richness of our daily lives.”
Abdul Hamid Kanu entered our Booooooom Art & Photography Book Awards 2025 and was shortlisted.
