The International Inventories Programme
Documenting 32,000+ Kenyan objects across institutions worldwide (2018-2022)
The International Inventories Programme (IIP) was a groundbreaking collaboration between Kenyan and European institutions, aimed at documenting and investigating Kenyan cultural objects held in global museums.
From 2018 to 2022, our team of researchers, artists and museum professionals worked to create a comprehensive database, fostering dialogue about cultural heritage and restitution.
From 2018 to 2022, our team of researchers, artists and museum professionals worked to create a comprehensive database, fostering dialogue about cultural heritage and restitution.
Key Achievements
- 1 comprehensive database of 32,000+ Kenyan objects documented
- 30 international institutions engaged
- 3 major exhibitions in Nairobi, Cologne and Frankfurt
- 8 Object Movement Dialogue debates conducted
Access content from the Invisible Inventories zine published during the course of the project.
Experience video highlights from our project dialogues as well as the travelling exhibition in Nairobi, Cologne, and Frankfurt.
Want to explore how communities around the world are working to bring their cultural treasures home? We've gathered some of the most compelling video stories that bring these efforts to life.
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Restitution isn’t just returning objects, relearning cultural identities, reshaping voids, loss, shame, and violences, it is re-engaging with what’s possible.