Uhuru Receives Stolen Kenyan Artefacts From Trump

On Tuesday, Ministry of Culture, Sports and National Heritage Cabinet Secretary, Amina Mohamed, received 30 artefacts (cultural or historical objects) known locally as Vigangos from the United States.

The artefacts, which were stolen and sold in America as works of art, arrived earlier in July and were taken to the Fort Jesus Museum in Mombasa as reported by KBC.

The sculptures were in the Denver Museum of National History in the US.

The value of cultural artefacts is sadly converted to money and not pride, owner and the identity of our people. Today we celebrate the return of 30 vigangos: gravestones erected in the homestead of a Giriama elder as a sign of respect.

These precious artefacts returned voluntarily by Denver Museum represent a remarkable milestone in the quest for social & cultural justice for the Coastal people,” Amina enthusiastically stated.

Amina further revealed that the government hoped more of the artefacts would be brought back in the country.

This humbling ceremony intensifies our quest to seek and demand repatriation of cultural items taken out of Kenya illegally,” Amina declared.

The artefacts are expected to be transported to Kilifi County, their original home, where another ceremony to receive them is expected before they are returned to the rightful owners.

According to Kaya elder, Joseph Karisa, the artefacts have a meaning and the engravings on them are different.

The elders' representative stated that every sculpture has a name representing a specific spiritual leader and they are symbols to link the living and the dead.

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