Kenya: Calls to make old slave posts tourist sites

The US embassy in Kenya has said old slave trading posts on Kenya’s coast can be promoted to attract African-American tourists interested in learning their history. A US envoy said slavery sites that were active between the 18th and 19th centuries can be tapped to boost tourism, especially from African-Americans eager to know their history. US Deputy Ambassador to Kenya Isiah Parnell said most African-Americans do not know their origins, including the less publicised slaving centres like Shimoni on the Kenyan south coast, which he toured on Wednesday. “About 120,000 tourists from America come to Kenya annually.

This can be an opportunity for Kenya to showcase some of the slavery sites,” he said. COLLECTING CENTRE Apart from being the cradle of mankind, Kenya, and especially the Coast region, was a collecting centre for slaves who were later exported by Arab slave merchants overseas. Arab slavers acting from Zanzibar, Oman and Mombasa in Kenya and Bagamoyo in Tanzania used the Shimoni caves as a clandestine slave holding centre to beat imperial Britain’s ban on the slave trade in its overseas territories. The slave trade only ended on parts of the Kenyan coast at the start of the First World War. The deputy ambassador was speaking in Shimoni on Wednesday when he officially opened a colonial building rehabilitated by the US Government in two phases costing Sh2.5million each, as part of celebrations to mark 50 years of the Kenya-US partnership. Patrick Abungu, the Shimoni curator, said the money was used for roofing, installations and restoration back to a usable status. “The house was bushy and trees had started growing inside but now it can be used,” he said.

The first Sh2.5 million was donated in 2006, and the second in 2012. National Museums of Kenya acting Director Purity Kiura said the US partnership had boosted cultural activities at the coast. “America funds Kilifi and Malindi cultural festivals and is restoring the Gede ruins,” she said. She said the movie 12 Years A Slave, featuring Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o, is an opportunities the country can use.

The US embassy in Kenya has said old slave trading posts on Kenya’s coast can be promoted to attract African-American tourists interested in learning their history. A US envoy said slavery sites that were active between the 18th and 19th centuries can be tapped to boost tourism, especially from African-Americans eager to know their history. US Deputy Ambassador to Kenya Isiah Parnell said most African-Americans do not know their origins, including the less publicised slaving centres like Shimoni on the Kenyan south coast, which he toured on Wednesday. “About 120,000 tourists from America come to Kenya annually. This can be an opportunity for Kenya to showcase some of the slavery sites,” he said. COLLECTING CENTRE Apart from being the cradle of mankind, Kenya, and especially the Coast region, was a collecting centre for slaves who were later exported by Arab slave merchants overseas. Arab slavers acting from Zanzibar, Oman and Mombasa in Kenya and Bagamoyo in Tanzania used the Shimoni caves as a clandestine slave holding centre to beat imperial Britain’s ban on the slave trade in its overseas territories. The slave trade only ended on parts of the Kenyan coast at the start of the First World War. The deputy ambassador was speaking in Shimoni on Wednesday when he officially opened a colonial building rehabilitated by the US Government in two phases costing Sh2.5million each, as part of celebrations to mark 50 years of the Kenya-US partnership. Patrick Abungu, the Shimoni curator, said the money was used for roofing, installations and restoration back to a usable status. “The house was bushy and trees had started growing inside but now it can be used,” he said.
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