Cheikh Oumar Diallo: Senegalese socio-cultural photographer documenting memory, heritage, & African realities | 54Ruum Spotlight

Cheikh Oumar Diallo is a socio-cultural photographer whose work explores socio-cultural realities and African heritage through imagery.

He loves to capture the unseen narratives of communities, their skills, and their interactions with the environment. His photography also questions notions of belonging, memory, and transmission, highlighting the dynamics of territorial transformation.

How would you describe yourself in a few sentences?

I am a patient, curious person, guided by my creative impulses and bold ideas. I move through the world with a constant desire to explore, learn, and transform what I see into meaningful images.

I can spend hours on a single detail, a light, a gesture, a texture, until the image finally breathes exactly what I want it to say. It is both an obsession and a joy.

How did you first get into photography?

I started photography almost naturally, as a way to observe and understand the world around me. 

I initially worked in community engagement, youth programmes, humanitarian action, and human rights. Very early on, I realised that images could extend those commitments and convey what words alone often fail to express. 

The turning point came when I began documenting the social realities around me: the sea, the environment, neighbourhoods, and culture. I understood that photography, for me, was not just about “taking pictures”, but about writing memories, archiving lives, and telling African stories.

What type(s) of photography do you specialise in, and why did you choose this niche?

Artistic and documentary

Can you share the underlying themes or ideas that drive your photography?

My work explores African socio-cultural realities, heritage, the environment, and the invisible stories of communities.

I focus mainly on three major themes: memory and belonging, what we inherit and what we pass on; the relationship between people and their environment, including pollution, coastline erosion, and urban transformation; and African identities, such as gestures, traditions, craftsmanship, spirituality, and territories.

I use my images to create connections by allowing communities to speak through them. I see myself as a conduit. I place my vision at the service of others so their stories can touch, question, and inspire. A powerful image can open conversations where words alone cannot.

What's the one achievement or moment in your photography career that you're most proud of?

Several moments stand out, but three are particularly meaningful for me. The first was my series “Victim or Responsible”, which received multiple awards, including first prize from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, and was selected by Africa Soft Power.

My participation in the “Mémoires de Tirailleurs” project, where I travelled more than 3,400 km to document the stories of the last surviving Senegalese tirailleurs, was also a unique historical, human, and emotional experience.

I can also say the same about my exhibitions at the Henriette Bathily Women’s Museum, the Saint-Louis Photography Museum, and my participation in the Dakar Biennale (Dak’Art). These milestones affirm that my work is finding its place and resonating with people.

What's the biggest challenge you've faced as a photographer, and how did you overcome it?

To reflect myself and my vision of the world.

If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be and why?

I would like to collaborate with African documentary photographers whose work carries deep meaning, cultural institutions that preserve and promote African heritage, and brands connected to culture, the environment, or social innovation.

What are your thoughts on the 54Ruum platform?

I believe 54Ruum has real potential to support and connect African creatives. In a context where many African artists lack structured platforms, 54Ruum offers a strategic gateway between creativity,professional growth, and the cultural economy.

How's the photography and art space in your country?

The artistic scene in Senegal has been growing rapidly. There is a new generation of photographers, filmmakers, visual artists, and creative minds who are reshaping narratives, pushing boundaries, and producing work of remarkable quality. 

Platforms, residencies, festivals, and collaborations are multiplying, creating an inspiring dynamic and offering more opportunities for emerging artists.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting their photography journey, what would it be?

Take photos for yourself first. Do not begin by trying to respond to a brief or fit a style someone else dictates; it kills creativity.