This project documents Bubu music and its communities in northern Sierra Leone, capturing the people and everyday moments that keep the tradition alive. Rooted in Abdul Hamid Kanu's Temne heritage, it engages with music as a living practice connecting generations through sound, memory, and belonging.

Group portrait: L–R: Lamin, Amadu, Aribo, Bai, Santigie, Alhaji, Ibrahim, Chernor, Hassan, Abu, Ibrahim, Foday, Issa, Hassan.

L-R: Amadu with his son (left) and Abu (right).  Lamin, dressed in a matching band uniform, holds his instrument.

Rofainka musicians form a leading line as they play, their movement softly blurring the frame.

Santigie plays the bass box intensely.

Jatu dancing among a crowd of bubu players.

Rofainka village women singing and dancing in excitement.

A musician plays the shaker intensely.

Mariatu dancing in front of the Bubu musicians.

Mariatu joins the bubu ensemble by playing along.

Close-up of a musician playing while looking away.

Bubu instruments including shakers, yakoko (cowbell), bass box, and bamboo flutes arranged on the floor.

Sampa dancing to the music.

Player poses for a photo as his children imitate him.

Abdul Hamid Kanu is a photographer and visual storyteller born and raised in Sierra Leone. His work centers on capturing everyday life, identity, and community through intimate, thoughtful images that reveal the beauty in ordinary moments. He is the founder of Muyu Journal, a platform that supports contemporary African storytelling and cultural dialogue. His work has been exhibited internationally, including with Évidences Photos in Paris and at Carleton University Art Gallery in Canada. It has also appeared in publications such as Dazed Magazine, Random Photo Journal, and Aperture. Over the years, he has collaborated with several brands and organizations, blending documentary and editorial approaches to tell stories that matter. He is passionate about connecting with people and communities, using photography as a tool to build understanding and preserve cultural memory.

In December, Tender Photos will showcase Bubu Music by Sierra Leone-based photographer Abdul Hamid Kanu. An essay contextualising the images by Olaniyi Omiwale will be published next week (December 19), followed by a short story by Damilola Onwah. For press, sponsorship and other media inquiries, contact us.