Hawa’s work explores the complexity of the human condition. She is fascinated by the power of stories - their emotional, political, psychological agency. She is interested in stories which touch on the universal through perspectives that have often been left in silence.  Her work searches for the truth of things beyond the constructed borders.

 

She was born in Hamburg.

 

She first performed in Kenya and directed several theatre plays and acted in films before moving into film and TV production which eventually led her behind the camera. She stayed interested in acting for how it informed being a better director in both film and theatre.

 

Hawa is a curious, expressive artist in constant looking to push the boundaries and challenge what we think we know about other people’s lives. She strives to challenge, provoke and stimulate people with work that is honest, playful.

 

Her film Soul Boy screened at over 40 film festivals and won several awards as a result. Since then she’s directed music videos and documentaries. Currently, Hawa is nearing completion on a documentary about how people choosing to migrate away from the countries of their birth find safety in travel as it changes their identity and concept of home. She has just completed a documentary about extractive industries in Liberia through the eyes of community activism, which had its international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and european premiere at IDFA.

She also works in fictional realms, and is currently developing a feature length narrative film Djin, set in a Swahili coastal town.

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