Next Friday, the National Records and Archives Authority Opens the Documentary Exhibition of Lamu Museum

The NRAA will open, next Friday, the project of the permanent museum exhibition of records, archives and historical holdings of the Omani presence in East Africa, the Omani heritage and the common history between the two countries in Lamu County. The project includes improvement and restoration processes carried out in coordination with the Sultanate’s embassy in Kenya, and in cooperation with the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage. The museum will be opened under the patronage of Hon. Peninah Malonza, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage of the Republic of Kenya, and in the presence of a number of ministers, governors, ambassadors and a number of Omani dignitaries in Mombasa, Lamu and Malindi. It is one of the archaeological and architectural monuments that is expected to play various cultural roles, through which it aims to reflect the impact of the Omani presence in Lamu County, Kenya, as well as confirming the depth of historical relations between the two countries and consolidating the noble Omani values, reflecting the history, heritage and culture of Oman. It also aims at preserving historical evidence and collectibles and highlighting the cultural heritage of Oman in East Africa.
The project was executed within the framework of the existing cooperation between the NRAA and the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage agreed under the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries. It is worth mentioning that the building of the museum represents is a historical building that was constructed in 1892 by Abdullah bin Hamad bin Said Al Busaidi, the governor of Lamu during the reign of Sultan Sayyid Ali bin Said bin Sultan Al Busaidi (1890-1893 AD). The building was later used by the East African Company of the British Empire (I.B.E.A) and senior British officials before it became the residence of the commissioner responsible for the region until 1968 until recently was turned into a museum by the National Museums Authority in Kenya in 1971.
In 2023, the National Records and Archives Authority of the Sultanate of Oman, in coordination with the Sultanate’s embassy in Nairobi and in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Arts of the Republic of Kenya, made some improvements to the museum. The improvements in the museum targeted 7 halls, namely: the Hall of Oman Through Ages, the Omani Maritime Heritage Hall, the Human and Society Hall, the Hall of the Sultans of the Al Busaid Dynasty in East Africa, and the Hall of Sultan Qaboos bin Said – may God rest his soul – (1390-1441 AH / 1970-2020), the Modern Renaissance of Oman Hall, and the hall of the Omani Presence in East Africa. these halls contained a variety of historical and documentary material presented by Authority to preserve the history of the Sultanate of Oman in East Africa.