US technology giant, Google has launched a project to digitize and showcase collections from the National Museums of Kenya (NMK).
Under the project dubbed “Utamaduni Wetu: Meet the People of Kenya”, Google will promote Kenya’s cultural heritage through telling stories of 28 communities.
Sports, Culture and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed noted that the project is part of the government’s plan to digitize Kenya’s key museums.
“This will enable audiences to explore the country’s cultural heritage, which then provides us with a connection to forgotten social values, beliefs and customs,” said Ms. Mohamed, who spoke during the launch of the project in Nairobi.
Amina indicated that the exercise will encourage real-life visits to Kenya’s museums, monuments, and heritage sites.
NMK director-general Mzalendo Kibunja said: “With the museums of Kenya having over 10 million specimens, this is the best way for us to showcase our wide range of samples around the country.”
Charles Murito, the Google Kenya director said supporting the project underlined the company’s commitment to preserving and promoting Kenya’s culture.
Murito said the online exhibition is Google Arts and Culture’s most ambitious project in the continent to date. The Google Arts & Culture online platform gives users access to high-resolution images of works housed in its project partners’ museums.
