Muscat: The National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA) will launch a permanent exhibition of documents and archives of Oman's historical presence and impact in East Africa and the common history between Oman and Kenya in Lamu on Lamu Island, a world heritage site, which is a part of the Lamu Archipelago in Kenya.
The 51-year-old museum, which was established in 1970, was funded by the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Kenya.
The relations between Oman and Kenya date back to the 17th century when Mombasa and other coastal cities were under the Sultanate of Oman.
Traces of architecture and culture from Oman are still evident in Mombasa, Lamu and other coastal cities.
Some of the residents also trace their ancestry to them. The location of the museum on the waterfront area has been its major undoing due to its exposure to humidity, strong winds, direct sunlight, and salinity from the Indian Ocean. The building has constantly been affected by the annual floods that rock Lamu Island.
Lamu Museums contains the largest and best collection of authentic Swahili archaeological materials along the East Africa Coast.
The establishment of the permanent museum exhibition is part of the cooperation between the NRAA and Kenya's Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage, according to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries.
The project included the rehabilitation of some places to hold the permanent museum exhibition on the historical aspects of the Sultanate of Oman and the Omani presence in the Lamu district, which is represented in the historical building in 1892 built by Abdullah bin Hamad bin Said al Busaidy , the governor of Lamu during the reign of Sultan Sayyid Ali bin Said bin Sultan al Busaidy (1890-1893). It was later used by Briton's East African Company before it became the residence of the commissioner in charge of the region until 1968. The National Museums of Kenya turned it into a museum in 1971.
The NRAA in coordination with the Embassy of Oman in Nairobi and in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Arts of Kenya, made some improvements to the museum targeting 7 halls namely: Oman Through Time, the Omani Maritime Heritage, the Human and Society, Al Busaidy Sultans, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, in addition to the Hall of the modern renaissance of Oman, and the Hall of the Omani presence in East Africa, which hosts archives.
Through this project, the authority seeks to preserve civilisation of the Sultanate of Oman in East Africa. It will also serve as a window to Oman for everyone who visits Lamu Island to learn about its features, heritage and history.
It is worth noting that in 2017 the NRAA restored Mombasa Fort premises in Kenya to hold the permanent museum exhibition, which includes the Omani House, Al Mazrouei Hall and the Fort Museum, which is a testament to the Omani presence in Mombasa. (with ONA inputs)
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