Episode 109: Kenya's Cultural Heritage

This week, we’re joined by Tayiana Chao, a digital heritage specialist and digital humanities scholar, of African Digital Heritage, the Museum of British Colonialism, Save the Railway and Skills 4 Culture to discuss the importance of having a digital cultural heritage for the African continent. What is the current situation in Kenya when it comes to cultural heritage? Why is it important to have conversations about cultural heritage in Kenya, especially at this moment? How do we ensure that the collection, curation, conservation, exhibition and marketing of our cultural heritage centres Kenyans?

What role does technology have to play in our archiving, exploring and understanding our cultural heritage? What gaps currently exist in terms of the skills required in this sector? What gaps exist in the collection, curation, conservation, exhibition and marketing of our heritage? How can we bridge these gaps? What role will cultural heritage will play in the Kenyan socio-political experience in the coming years? Press play to find out!

Resources

National Museums and Heritage Act (2006)

National Museums of Kenya

Kenya National Archives and Documentation Service

Kenya National Library Service

Museum of British Colonialism

African Digital Heritage

Save The Railway

Mau Mau Detention Camp - Field Work

International Inventories Program

Skills 4 Culture

Book Bunk

Grand history of the lunatic express

End of Lunatic Express

Museums are hiding their imperial pasts – which is why my tours are needed

Museums and Empire: Natural History, Human Cultures and Colonial Identities

Museums have long overlooked the violence of empire

Anthropology and Colonialism

Radio Lab: Mau Mau

Kenya lifts ban on Mau Mau

Operation Legacy’: Britain’s Destruction and Concealment of Colonial Records Worldwide

Revealed: the bonfire of papers at the end of Empire

Britain destroyed records of colonial crimes

Foreign Office hoarding 1m historic files