International Inventories Programme: Database Publicly Available!

The International Inventories Programme database is now, finally, online for the public to see! Over the last two years, the IIP team has been in contact with cultural and educational institutions from all over the world, trying to both locate and collect data on Kenyan cultural objects that were taken out of Kenya during pre- and post-colonial times to other countries in various ways. Some were given and bought, with the fairness of any exchange considering the massive power discrepancy still up for discussion. Several others were looted, stolen and appropriated in a multiplicity of violent ways. The journey of these objects from their original homes to these museums, including their histories of ownership, however bloody these may be, are essential data in the collective narratives of the region now known as Kenya, and of its people.

The database currently comprises information from over 32,000 historic Kenyan cultural objects from thirty institutions around the world. Data about more than 4,800 objects from seven museum collections has now been published, and is publicly available online! More collections will be published over the coming weeks. 

Our warmest congratulations go out to the IIP team for accomplishing such a major milestone in this massive ongoing task! See the published 4,800 objects here.