The State Department of Culture and Heritage is focusing on safeguarding Kenya’s rich cultural traditions through digitisation, community empowerment, and the repatriation of stolen artifacts.
During an interview with Radio Generation on Tuesday, Principal Secretary Ummi Bashir highlighted that these priorities are anchored on the National Policy on Culture and Heritage of 2020 and aim to protect both tangible and intangible cultural expressions from erosion in the modern era.
“We have so many priorities. And the top three that I could come up with off the cuff is digitisation and documentation of our cultural heritage,” Ummi said.
She explained that the digital preservation effort particularly targets intangible heritage, including languages, songs, and oral storytelling traditions that are at risk of being lost among younger generations immersed in social media trends.
Ummi noted the importance of institutional and legal frameworks in safeguarding cultural expressions.
“Stories our babu zetu, when our Wazees would tell us stories by the fireplace, we’re trying to document that so that our great-grandchildren cannot be, you know, carried away by the current way of telling stories or just watching TikTok,” she said.
The department is also engaging communities as custodians of intangible heritage through cultural festivals, village performances, and educational programs at cultural centers and libraries.
This approach allows children to appreciate local languages and artistic expressions firsthand, ensuring the continuity of traditions.
Another major focus for the department is the repatriation of stolen artifacts.
PS Ummi emphasized the significance of policy in guiding these efforts, particularly in diplomatic negotiations with countries and institutions that hold Kenyan heritage abroad.
“We need a policy that guides us and tells us these are the ways to go in ensuring we repatriate our stolen artifacts,” she said.
The PS also cited the successful return of 85 vigangos from Illinois University in Chicago to the Kirima community in Kifi County, which were reinstated through traditional rituals and celebrations.
The State Department continues to work closely with international partners to recover cultural items while ensuring they are preserved in ways that honor their heritage.
“Whether we safeguard it or not, first of all, it belongs to us. So return them back home. We choose to do whatever we want,” Ummi added.
