Developing Digital Research Methodologies for Kenyan Collections Held in UK Museums

Abstract

This article explores digital research methodologies for Kenyan collections in UK museums, emphasising decolonial practices and community collaboration. The ‘Rethinking Relationships and Building Trust around African Collections’ project engaged Kenyan and Nigerian communities in provenance research, adapting to pandemic constraints by pivoting to digital methods. Using platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook, the project facilitated remote engagement, enabling community researchers to explore and document their material cultural heritage. Key outcomes include a collaboratively developed toolkit for navigating museums and museum databases, enhanced metadata for collections, and diverse research outputs, including essays, documentaries, and artworks. The project underscored the importance of epistemic justice by valuing community knowledge systems and highlighted challenges such as technological barriers and the need for equitable partnerships. This article contributes to the limited literature on collaborative projects between African heritage scholars in the diaspora and those on the continent, advocating for continued exploration of digital methodologies to address the legacies of colonialism in museum practices.