NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF KENYA: HISTORY AND MYSTERY

TAKE A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

Step into a museum, then you will learn to pay attention. It’s a shame I have never been to the National Museums of Kenya before this visit. I am so glad I got to tick it off my list during the past weekend holiday. Yes, another weekend holiday people! Move to Kenya, we welcome you with open arms.

We got cultured during the past weekend. Tita and I thought to visit the National Museums of Kenya during the past weekend. Somehow everyone who grew up in Kenya has been to the museum before during a school excursion. I have no idea where they left us during these trips, but I am glad we paid a visit now that we are older and a tad bit wiser.

We went back in time, I mean over two million years back in time and made a trip back to the present.

We arrived at the National Museums of Kenya a few minutes to midday. The grand complex is amid a relaxing, lush and green garden on a hill decorated with impressive art, some of which I recognized as being from Anselm Kitengela Hot Glass. There we were met by groups of young pupils on a school trip, tourist groups, individual travelers and families.

NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF KENYA: HALL OF KENYA

The Hall of Kenya serves as a prelude to the entrance and the first cultural exhibition to the museum. In the middle of the exhibition room stands a huge sculptor made from different types of gourds.

There are displays showcasing different types of tribal ‘kiondo‘ (wooven baskets) and a Swahili blow-horn called ‘Siwa’. The hall of Kenya displays different tribal artefacts such as jewelry, indigenous species of plants and a brief history of Joy Adamson.

Here you will learn more about pre-colonial Kenya, colonial Kenya and independent Kenya.

This includes the settlement of the British in Kenya and construction of the railway by Indian laborers.

THE ART GALLERY & CHINESE TAPESTRIES

One of my favorite exhibitions at the museum. The gallery had a lot of impressive paintings, metal art and Chinese tapestries. Sebastian Kiarie’s paintings were the main attraction of the gallery. Kiarie’s work has a gracefully stylized figuration that narrates a story and brings the viewer to the moment.

The gallery is also home to a few Chinese tapestries. Some of which narrate of a Zheng voyage to Africa during early Ming Dynasty, almost 600 years ago. Apparently, one or two ships of the Zheng voyage got shipwrecked after striking a rock on the Lamu Archipelago, northeast of Malindi. The surviving crew settled down in Pate and intermarried with the locals. There are a few descendants on Pate island now that have a striking facial resemblance with Chinese people; such as Mwamaka Sharifu.

CRADLE OF MANKIND 

Kenya is also known as the cradle of mankind. Archaeologists have found more fossil human remains in the country than any other country in Africa. Some of the oldest human remains date back to 7 million years from Baringo, Turgen Hills, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

We got to see a complete skeleton of the Turkana Boy (Homo Erectus), who is 1.6 Million years at the National Museums of Kenya. The remains bring  a lot of insight on how early man lived; the society and cultural customs like burials, hunting and gathering.

LUSH BOTANICAL GARDEN AND A SNAKE PARK

The National Museums of Kenya stands on a hill in a lush, green garden. It is home to a few beautiful plants, a great place to relax and have a picnic.

We took a stroll around the park, enjoying the sound of the river and the hushed sounds of the leaves brushing against each other in the wind.

There, we faced our fears quite literally by visiting the snake park that is also home to a few other reptiles; enclosed of course.

The National Museums of Kenya would be a great place to visit while in Nairobi. You will learn more about Kenya; the cultures, the history and the heritage.

Nairobi National Museum is open daily from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm including weekends and public holidays. The entry charges for a:

1. Citizen adult are:

• Nairobi Museum – Kshs. 200
• Snake Park – Kshs. 200
• Combined – Kshs. 300

2. Citizen child are:

• Nairobi Museum – Kshs. 100
• Snake Park – Kshs. 100
• Combined – Kshs. 150

3. Resident adult are:

• Nairobi Museum – Kshs. 600
• Snake Park – Kshs. 400
• Combined – Kshs. 600

4. Resident child are:

• Nairobi Museum – Kshs. 400
• Snake Park – Kshs. 200
• Combined – Kshs. 300

5. Non resident adult are:

• Nairobi Museum – Kshs. 1,200
• Snake Park – Kshs. 1,200
• Combined – Kshs. 1,500

6. Non resident child are:

• Nairobi Museum – Kshs. 600
• Snake Park – Kshs. 600
• Combined – Kshs. 1,000

Have you been to the National Museums of Kenya? Which was your favorite exhibition?

 

ADIEU!

 

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