On January 31st 1973, on the occasion of the opening of African Heritage Ltd by Her Worship the Mayor of Nairobi, Ms Margaret Kenyatta, Kenya’s greatest patron of the arts, Joseph Murumbi gave an interesting three minute speech. Long out of the political limelight, the one-time Vice President of Kenya urged the Mayor to use her considerable clout to persuade the Council to buy works by local artists for display in the City Hall itself and, more significantly, in city streets. One particular larger than life head and torso wooden sculpture by the Ugandan artist Francis Nnagenda recently caught my eye at the National Archives. The only surviving piece in what must have been a magnificent quartet; it still cuts an imposing figure. That Mr. Murumbi’s proposition was never picked up is an indictment on the churlish fashion we have always treated our artists. Every parent bridles when their child declares they want to ‘draw’ or ‘sculpt’. The old man, were he around, would be delighted at the efforts of the Born Free Foundation. The strategic placing of multi-coloured , fiberglass lion sculptures in various city streets was a brilliant, if iconoclastic idea. In an effort to save the King of beasts from extinction, unorthodox methods might just be the catalyst to trigger action. From Simba Mfalme, to Sibuor Profesa, Joseph Murumbi‘s proposal has finally been accepted. You were truly ahead of your time, Sir. Rest in Peace.
