- +254 20 2672843
- Harry Thuku Road, Nairobi
- info@kenyaculturalcentre.go.ke
KENYA CULTURAL CENTRE PARTICIPATES IN THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CULTURAL HERITAGE IN AFRICA
From 6th to 9th May 2024, the Kenya Cultural Centre (KCC) proudly participated in the International Conference on Cultural Heritage in Africa: A Dialogue on the Concept of Authenticity, held at the UN Headquarters in Gigiri, Nairobi. The high-level event, which was organized by UNESCO, brought together representatives from all around the African continent and beyond, along with cultural experts, policymakers, scholars, and heritage practitioners.
As part of the conference, KCC was featured among the official exhibitors, presenting a vibrant booth that showcased Kenyan creativity and heritage through paintings, drawings, fashion pieces, and traditional and modern jewelry. These artistic works, all crafted by local talent, captured the beauty, depth, and evolving nature of Kenyan cultural expression. Our team used this platform to interact with a diverse group of guests, including international delegates, international students, and other cultural organizations. We led discussions with guests about Kenya’s creative industries and the Centre’s different programs, including Ngoma na Sarakasi, KITFest (Kenya International Theatre Festival), and the Performing Arts Conference, highlighting the importance of the arts in maintaining and spreading cultural heritage.
Key talks were on the changing definition of “authenticity” in African history, the significance of community-driven cultural preservation, and the role of institutions like KCC in supporting both traditional and contemporary forms of expression.
In his closing remarks, the Honorable President William Ruto underlined the importance of rethinking global heritage frameworks to better represent African reality. He emphasized that current international heritage management methods frequently do not align with African cultural contexts and advocated for a reinvention of these standards to ensure they are inclusive and representative of Africa’s rich legacy.
Our participation served to strengthen KCC’s purpose of commemorating Kenya’s legacy through the arts, performance, and cultural education, while also opening new avenues for collaboration with regional and international partners.