My name is Eliakim Hawi, and I love to photograph people, nature and sports. I am deeply passionate about preserving and sharing cultural heritage. Growing up in a rural community in Kenya, I witnessed how technology slowly made parts of our culture fade away. As a photographer, I began documenting cultural artifacts, hoping to one day create a digital collection of images and stories that capture our heritage.

During my six years with Digital Divide Data (DDD), I had the chance to grow my skills. One of my proudest projects was partnering with Amazon Web Services and Intel to digitize one of the largest collections of archaeology and paleontology at the National Museums of Kenya.

After moving to Canada, I’ve continued to pursue my passion through various projects, including work with the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum in Almonte and a project here in Ottawa. Currently, I’m documenting Ottawa’s unique cultural diversity through photos and stories from its diaspora communities, with support from the City of Ottawa.