African Heritage House

The African Heritage House " the most photographed house in Africa" overlooking the Nairobi National Park is described by the prestigious Architectural Digest as "an architecture rising from the serene Kenyan plain like an outcropping of earth, a vision of usefulness informed by the African genius for decoration." Designed by American Alan Donovan, co-founder of the African Heritage Pan African Galleries, the house is a combination of the mud architectures from across Africa.

It stands on a slope near the Nairobi National Park, with the Kenya-Uganda Railway as the boundary, beyond which can be seen zebras and assorted wildlife. The Ngong Hills are also visible in the distance.

The house is open for guided tours that are conducted by Alan Donovan. Built over five years by Donovan, the house's four floors are packed from floor to ceiling with African art. The house itself is modelled on the mud architecture exemplified by the Great Mosque of Djenné in Mali, with natural ventilation that makes the interior significantly cooler than the exterior.

The doors to the various rooms are ornate pieces from Lamu, whose brass latches are still shiny despite being over 100 years old. The house incorporates several features of traditional African architecture – an interior courtyard and indoor gardens typical of Moroccan houses, painted walls reminiscent of the Kasena people in northern Ghana, and Swahili furniture from the East African coast.

Another, the Bakuba Room, is dominated by the mud cloth of the Kuba people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which was said to have inspired modern artists such as Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. Yet another room features kikoi fabric drapes, alongside bronze "house animals" from Benin and a traditional four-poster bed from Zanzibar. This eclectic combination gives an interesting feel to the house, with the objects blending together despite their varied origins.

On display in and around the house are extensive sculptures by artists who were in residence at one time at the African Heritage House, and went on to become prominent artists in their own right.

The traditional pottery turned into modern art by Magdalene Odundo gets pride of place alongside coffee table books by award-winning photographers Angela Fisher and Carol Beckwith that feature photographs of disappearing African cultures.
Additional works by Expedito Mwebe and Elkana Ong'esa, whose sculptures can also be found at the Nairobi City Park's Murumbi Memorial, are scattered around the compound.

The house features the beadwork of different communities such as the Kamba. Several objects of art in the house are functional pieces such as a camel stomach-turned-cooking-fat container from the Turkana. Also on display are large gourds used to hold traditional brew that was used as a dowry payment among the Kamba. These gourds are decorated with concentric circles that represent Mount Kilimanjaro, where the Kamba believe the spirits of their ancestors reside.

Through the African Heritage House, African art and culture has gained international exposure. Kenyan musicians of note, such as Idi Achieng and Ayub Ogada sang and toured as members of the African Heritage Band.

The house itself has provided a backdrop for photo shoots in various fashion and design magazines, which Donovan has fastidiously collected and kept on display. Additionally, he has a folio dedicated to the career of Iman, a supermodel whose career started with showcasing African Heritage designs.

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