@ppcheti
The historic Lamu museum is undergoing Sh20 million renovations courtesy of the National Museums of Kenya and the Oman government.
The 51-year-old museum was established in 1970 and has never been renovated.
The ongoing renovations are fully funded by the Sultanate of Oman in Nairobi.
The curator in charge of the Lamu Museums and heritage sites Mohamed Mwenje said the renovation works will take five months, the museum will reopen before end of March next year.
Major facelifts in the works include the replacement of the museum’s corrugated iron sheets, general roofing and replacement of sections of the dilapidated plaster walls.
Collections of archeological artefacts that had been poorly arranged and displayed will be remodelled and clearly labeled for easy access, identification and understanding by those visiting the museum.
The new face of the Lamu museum upon completion will allow for a better illumination of the Swahili traditions attributed to the monsoon trade through various collections of traditional clothing, domestic utilities, furniture and the general history.
Mwenje said the cooperation between the NMK and the Omani government in the renovations is meant to enhance cultural ties that have for decades existed between the East African Coast and the Sultanate of Oman.
The relations between Oman and Kenya date back to the 17th century when Mombasa and other coastal cities were occupied by the Sultanate of Oman.
Traces of architecture and culture from Oman are still evident in Mombasa, Lamu and other Coastal cities.
Some of the residents also trace their ancestry to them.
“The renovations are part of the efforts to expound on the Oman presence in East Africa which has existed for over five centuries.
"This particular collaboration has provided new opportunities in trying to improve on the exhibition as well as the presentation of the building which is a key tourist attraction,” Mwenje said.
The location of the museum on the waterfront area has been its major undoing due to its exposure to humidity, strong winds, direct sunlight, and salinity from the Indian Ocean.
The building has constantly been affected by the annual floods that rock Lamu Island.
All these factors and many more have influenced the ongoing refurbishment,” Mwenje said.
Lamu Museums contains the largest and best collection of authentic Swahili archaeological materials along the East Africa Coast.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
