CH4IG Kenya is a collaboration between the British Council and Kenyan delivery partners that aims to not only review and bolster the status of cultural heritage, but also consider the various approaches to inclusive growth in the heritage sector. For SkillsForCulture II (2021 - 2022) - African Digital Heritage is carrying out research on the skills needed to support cultural heritage work in Kenyan counties.
We engaged various country governments and community practitioners to gain perspectives on the impact of devolution on cultural heritage, and identify areas that practitioners working within these counties would like to improve on their skills.
County 001: Mombasa
We chose Mombasa as one of the counties to research because of its rich cultural heritage assets, its history, its cultural diversity and its rapidly growing urban landscape. Mombasa county is home to some major historical sites such as Fort Jesus and Old Town and cultural centers such as the Bombolulu Workshops and Cultural Center, and the Little Theater Club, just to name a few.
Our first stop was Fort Jesus, a UNESCO Heritage Site that dates back to the 16th Century. Fort Jesus borders Mombasa Old Town, another World Heritage Site that is community owned. A visit to Fort Jesus was important because it was necessary to understand how the community, the county, and National Museum of Kenya work together to preserve and protect these culturally and historically rich assets.
It was at Fort Jesus where we learned about the National Museum of Kenya – Heritage Training Institute(NMK-HTI); a training and research institute that offers both technical and heritage training courses. Currently, the institute is seeking accreditation of their courses. It was a delight to know that the National Museums of Kenya, are inviting private practitioners to learn and grow their skills in cultural heritage. It is also interesting to note that NMK-HTI offers courses around woodwork and tailoring; traditional skills sets that have for centuries been vital to the economy of Kenyan coastal towns and have been passed down from generation to generation through apprenticeship.
Our next stop was Swahilipot. A youth tech hub that is a member of the ICROM Kenya Heritage Hub. SwahiliPot, located right next to Fort Jesus, convenes techies and artists and gives them a platform to build and grow their skills by connecting them to mentors and industry players who would be pivotal in their growth. They gave us insight on the importance of strategic partnerships in running cultural heritage programs.
Lastly, we met a county cultural officer who took us through the functions of the department before and after devolution. They also explained in detail how they work with private practitioners and the National Museums of Kenya, and the importance of using a multi stakeholder approach to to protect, promote and preserve cultural heritage in Mombasa County,
The insights garnered from this research will all contribute to developing a skills tool-kit for cultural practitioners working within the counties that will be published soon.
