Behind the scenes, digitizing the Joy Adamson collection

From May 2018 to June 2019, the National Museums of Kenya digitized over 10,000 objects including ornaments and jewellery, weapons, shields, textiles, clothing, kangas, gourds, furniture, dolls, masks, baskets, textiles, combs, tools, ritual and medicine objects. The team also digitizied 300 paintings by artist Joy Adamson, 21 paintings by artist Leonard Kateete and 100 contemporary art paintings. Furthermore, Street View was captured of over 16 sites including Karen Blixen’s House, Uhuru Freedom Park and the Nairobi National Museum. A team of over 20 people were involved in the process, including lead curators from The department of Cultural Heritage and The Resource Center Department; Archives Section.

The digitised objects tell the story of the people of Kenya. Dating back centuries, the stories and traditions of the people of Kenya are some of the most fascinating in the world. They have enriched the country through social, economic, political and cultural activities, each with their own unique stories. Today, 44 communities are officially recognized by the government, and are classified into three linguistic groups: the Bantu, the Nilotic and the Cushitic speakers. The National Museums of Kenya holds objects telling the stories of the communities, which represent the country's ethnic diversity and vibrant cultures. Many of the cultural practices are still embraced today, but have been influenced by the changes in society.