Modern Kenyan Identity: Crafting a Nation Through Monuments
Modern Kenyan Identity: Crafting a Nation Through Monuments

Summary/Abstract: To define the identity of a modern African country, within the Eurocentric interpretiveframework, imposes creative limits. Therefore, this is an insider’s perspective of Kenyanidentity. It begins with a summary of modernism as the underpinning philosophy of variouscultural expressions. While pointing out the danger of assigning expressions of cultural identityto a state as opposed to a nation, the article surveys monuments in Nairobi. And it is withqualified confidence that modernist-looking monuments are considered cultural expressionsof Kenya; they are simply symbols that try to gather the peoples into a modern collective –with (un)certain success.The colonial authority assembled various monuments in an effort to imprint Britishidentity; these are not in the style of modernism, though they were erected when Europe wasexperiencing the culture of modernism. The epitome is the statue of King George V. Post-colonialmonuments, seeking to wipe off colonial identity, are also more classical and less modernist,bringing to the fore the paradox of a modern culture that does not employ a moderniststyle. Jomo Kenyatta’s statue in Nairobi’s City Square is the epitome of post-colonial monuments.Its mounting was the gesture par excellence of overthrowing British dominion. Theonly modernist monuments are those affiliated to President Daniel Moi. His regime had tofight to unite the citizens. A parallel is drawn between this political effort and the artistic styleof choice.A discussion of the non-prevalence of the modernist style in articulating modern identityfollows. And, in conclusion, the article points out that though both colonial and post-colonialmonuments are fabricated out of modern materials and techniques, they cannot betermed modernist works of art. Modernism, as a style that bespeaks a culture, is unavoidablyunderpinned on western cultures (European and American) of the 20th century.

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