Hakema Ndanu | Photographer
Tell us about yourself
My name is Hakema Mutanu, I am a college student studying international studies and hopefully I will minor in something like African studies but we will see. I was born and raised in Nairobi , Kenya. I'm born again and in my journey with Christ. I love food, culture, and nature and photography makes it come to life for me.
What made you interested in photography?
My interest I'm photography began when my phone would be full of thousands of pictures in a few months. I would take pictures of myself, flowers, buildings and other miscellaneous things. With time i decided to take things serious and enrolled in some photography courses and bought myself a camera and began my portfolio. Photography is my eye lenses to see Gods beauty. When i take pictures of nature or of people its like I can capture his image .
Why did you agree to join the orig1nal team?
I agreed to join the original team because first of all i had known Ori for a many years and I had always wanted to use my photography for something to bring glory to God and when Ori asked me to join the team i couldn't say no. Working with a great person like her and doing what I love is too good to pass by. Really it is!!!
As a Kenyan, what are some obstacles you had to overcome in the U.S?
As a Kenyan in America it was difficult because first of all there are not many Kenyans , if you say there are please tell me where they are. Anyways I had to learn how to live with other peoples of other cultures and learn to appreciate my culture as well while not being too loud about it and obnoxious. On the other side as an immigrant it was difficult to adjust for sure to the school system and learn to laugh at stereotypes and differences rather than to let it consume my whole well being.
What advice could you give to other young Africans who want to pursue a hobby that our culture doesn't value?
To my fellow brothers and sisters I can advice you to just pursue it. I heard about a quote that said in the end of life you will not cry over the things you did but rather the things you never did. In the beginning I felt really unappreciated and invisible when I pursued hobbies I enjoyed but I just had to keep doing it whether someone was watching or not because it made me happy, and God wants us to be happy and to use the gifts he gives us. So wake up and chase your passions!
What makes you original?
Hmm what makes me original is the fact that I have so many names ..haha no just kidding. I am original because I am not ashamed of who I am and I always keep trying even when i am totally making a fool out of myself.
