african heritage house – Moonlion Safaris

The enduring legacy of the African Heritage House

Published on May 14, 2024 by Rupi Mangat1 Comment

Every floor is a testimony to Africa’s great arts, giving accolade to the African Heritage House as the most photographed house in the world.

Published: Nation newspaper Saturday magazine 11 May 2024

Above: The African Heritage House. Credit Maya Mangat

It’s nostalgic being back at the African Heritage House, one of the world’s most unique houses inspired by all that is African – from her architecture to the arts, from her textiles to the cuisine.

I remember the first time driving up there in early 2006 and wondering if we had the correct address amidst the urban sprawl of Mlolongo. I see the same expression on my guests till we arrive at the house, the façade inspired by the mud mosques of Timbuktu and Djenne in Mali.

The mud mosque of Timbuktu that so inspired Alan Donovan to build the African Heritage House Copyright Rupi Mangat

It was the first time I had seen anything like that. The mystical Timbuktu came alive, which was the centre of Islamic studies in the 15^th and 16^th centuries and the home of the Koranic Sankore University founded in the 14^th century that was the intellectual and spiritual centre of Islam throughout Africa.

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Adornments for the mighty

Published on January 4, 2020January 3, 2020 by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

Published: The East African Nation media 26 October 2019

I stared at myself in the mirror, transfixed and let out an audible gasp. The beaded collar copied from the Egyptian queen dating more than 4,500 years, adorning my skin was the single most beautiful thing l had ever worn. It held me mesmerized, entrenched and enchanted me into the world of beads, that l had until hereto little interest in.

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African Twilight

Published on March 8, 2019March 6, 2019 by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

The Vanishing Rituals and Ceremonies of the African Continent

Above: African Heritage House bathed in morning light. Copyright Maya Mangat

Published: The Star newspaper, Kenya – 2 March 2019

“It’s my dream to set up a pan-African centre where artists from all over Africa can come and see the creativity from all parts of Africa,” said Joseph Murumbi, Kenya’s first foreign minister and second vice president.

at 2 (800x605) (800x605) — African Twilight images – Courtesy Alan Donovan

He never lived to see his dream for his house that had one of the most extensive and valuable collections of all things African, was allowed to fall in ruin after he sold it to the government on condition that it would be turned into the Murumbi Institute of African Studies. Murumbi died shortly after that in 1990 when he saw his once cherished house and indigenous garden in Muthaiga, Nairobi bulldozed away. Continue reading “African Twilight” →

A Nigerian Fest in Nairobi

Published on September 24, 2017 by Rupi MangatLeave a comment

Alan Donovan Celebrating half a century in Africa with the arts

Published in The East African Nation media – 23 – 29 September 2017

Above: Oshogbo King wearing beaded crown. Photo by Alan Donovan

It was in 1967 and the director of USAID in Nigeria was being installed as an honorary chief, riding on a white horse through the city of Oshogbo amidst pomp and glory – and in the crowd was Alan Donovan, young and recently posted to the country by the US government just before the devastating Biafra war broke out.

Alan Donovan buying his first work of African contemporary art from Nigerian artist Muraina Oyelami in Oshogbo Nigeria, in 1967. The Oshogbo group of artists celebrate their 50th anniversary this year with Alan Donovan who arrived in Africa in 1967, during a mammoth city wide Nigerian Festrival in Nairobi during the months of October and November.

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