Bedford Museum UK negotiates return of historical Kenyan cultural artefacts

Tom Perret Head of Collections Bedford Museum with Hon
Minister and Mr Rawkins family during the official hand over

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Bedford Museum has negotiated the return to Kenya of historical cultural artefacts owned by a local family.

A delegation from the Kenyan government, including the Hon. William Ole Ntimama, EGH, MP, the Minister of State for National Heritage and Culture, attended a special event at Bedford Museum on 28^th October at 12pm to receive the objects. At hand to receive the delegation which included the Director General of National Museums of Kenya Mr Idle Omar was the board of trustees of the Kenyan Community Bedford and the local Kenyan Children.

The objects included necklaces, lip decorations and decorated gourd pots, as well as a ceremonial shield, spears and a bow and arrow. They were collected by Major Harry Rawkins while he was serving in the British Army in Kenya during the Mau Mau rebellion against colonial rule in the 1950s. Mr Rawkins was born in Buckinghamshire in 1913 before moving to Renhold as a small boy. He attended Bedford Modern School and went on to work for Charles Wells and the Prudential. A keen sportsman he also played for both Bedford Athletic and Bedford rugby clubs.

During World War II, Mr Rawkins served in the Shetlands and Orkneys before moving on to the continent, where he fought in Holland. After the war, he stayed in the Army and served in Kenya in the King’s African Rifles. He later returned to Bedford and passed away in March 2007.

Bedford Museum does not own the objects, but acted as a facilitator in the donation of these objects to the National Museums of Kenya. The Museum was offered the objects by Mr Rawkins’ family, but following discussions with the family and a number of specialists, it was decided that the most appropriate outcome was for them to be returned to Kenya.

The Kenyan government is currently listing objects held in museums in Europe and the US that are considered of national importance with the long-term aim of their return. Following the opening this year of a new EU-funded £6m museum in Nairobi, Kenyan heritage officials now argue that they have the facilities to look after even the most fragile items.

Addressing the gathering the Hon. Minister Ole Ntimama thanked both the Rawkins' family for returning the artefacts and the Bedford Museum for facilitating the return.

 After the official handing over ceremony, the Kenyan government delegation was particularly interested with the Kenyan Children who came to meet them. They shared light refreshments and took photos. As expected the children most born in UK had lots of questions about Kenya. One of the delegates commented that they felt at home and felt humbled by the reception accorded to them by the Kenyan Community Bedford. Whilst the Kenyan Community Bedford exists to address the welfare, social, development and cultural needs of the Kenyans and Africans living in Bedford, Young leaders Academy seeks to model young men to become future leaders. For the young leaders this was a good practical session to meet Kenyan government leaders. 

 Background

The Mau Mau rebellion was a particularly difficult period in British-African relations. It began in the early 1950s among the Kikuyu tribe of the Kenyan highlands, many of whom had been forced off their lands by white, mainly British, settlers and made to become labourers on settler farms.

The violent rebellion was directed against both white settlers and their Kenyan supporters. Over a seven year period from 1952, Mau Mau were reported to have killed 32 white settlers and thousands of Africans who profited from the British administration.

Britain’s response was no less violent. It was reported that thousands of Africans were killed and many more were imprisoned and tortured or forced into heavily guarded camps plagued by starvation and disease. Local enemies of the rebellion were also armed by the British        

The rebellion remains controversial. Certainly it helped to bring forward the date of Kenyan independence, which was declared in December 1963, at a time when the British Empire was well on the way to being dismantled.

   Notes to Editors

Attending the event was a delegation from the Kenyan Ministry of State for National Heritage and Culture and the National Museums of Kenya.

Also attending were representatives from Kenyan Community Bedford, a group set up in 2005 to help address the welfare, social, cultural and development needs of the Kenyan and African communities living in Bedford. There was also representatives from the Luton Young Leaders’ Academy, which exists to improve the chances and career choices of young African Caribbean males in the area.