Hundreds of friends, artists and government officials thronged the African Heritage House in Kitengela, Machakos County, to bury renowned art collector and art promoter Alan Donovan Tuesday.
Led by the Sports, Heritage and Arts C.S. Amina Mohammed, the mourners paid glowing tributes to a man who was born in Colorado 83 years ago but who found joy and peace in promoting African heritage and African art here in Kenya.
Dr Amina recalled that she met Alan earlier on in her formative stages as a diplomat in Geneva Switzerland.
“I am the one who helped have the SGR move away from the African Heritage land and spare the house intended demolition,” said Amina.
She praised the work of Alan and hoped that it would be kept alive recalling how every dress she wore from African Heritage was such a showstopper wherever she went.
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Justin Asikoye and Joseck Asikoye of Jabali Afrika perform during the burial of Alan Donovan at the African Heritage home in Athi River on December 13, 2021. [George Orido]
Ojay Hakim spoke passionately about his 15 years of experience working with Alan Donovan remembering him as a caring and humble individual.
Ojay, who saw the African Heritage House come from scratch joined the company as an intern and later on became the creative manager at their Nairobi premises and in 1988.
He recalled how Alan was immersed in expressions of African music, food, design, clothes and interior design.
International model Khadija Adams said Alan discovered her and encouraged her to model telling her how beautiful she was.
“Today I wear what Alan designed for me in his remembrance,” she said.
Jabali Africa brothers of Joseck and Justine Asikoye owe their success to Alan Donovan.
They first met Alan at Paa Ya Paa Cultural Centre and immediately struck a relationship that would last for years.
“He gave a gig every Saturday and Sunday and we became a permanent feature at the African Heritage Ltd on Kenyatta Avenue. In 1995 he took us on a European tour and instead of coming back to Kenya he took us to the US for another tour,” said Asikoye.
Today Jabali is permanently based in the US and has just won an Emmy nomination.
“Alan’s death to me is a big blow especially to African culture and preserving African heritage. The question is, are we going to fit in in his shoes and keep the work going. Alan made you love Africa and made you love who you are,” mourned Asikoye who together with his brother Justin performed at the funeral.
Wakake just got Alan’s old Nyatiti got fixed a fortnight ago. [George Orido]
Also performing was Nyatiti man Kake Wakake who played numerous numbers including Lowo in Dholuo.
The song is a dirge cursing the soil for consuming the lives of very many good people from our midst.
Wakake just got Alan’s old Nyatiti got fixed a fortnight ago and Donovan promised to have Wakake a nice costume for his future performances.
“Now I am here performing in his last event on earth without the clothes he had promised. Death is such a sting,” mourned Wakake.
Alumni of the African Heritage include Ayub ogada, Gido Kibukosya, Jack Odongo, Khadija Adams, Emma Too, Catherine Karl, Lois Mutua and Agnes Alando.
Alan had numerous programmes that helped hundreds of artists realise their dreams including organising beauty pageants, fashion shows, music tours, and promoting artists.
Alan died before completing his pet project of establishing a fund that would continue helping older artists.
Whilst Alan is most closely associated with African Heritage, he was responsible for curating the ground floor of the National archives and the Nairobi Gallery.
He tried to turn a portion of Nairobi City Park into a sculpture garden where the works of four of Murumbi’s favourite sculptors were on permanent display.
Before coming to Kenya Alan had worked in Nigeria as a relief worker in the State Department in 1957.
He quit in 1968 and got involved with artists there including Muraina Oyelami of Oshogbo.
After the death of Kenya’s Vice President and his wife Sheila in 1990 and 2000 respectively, he ran the African Heritage Ltd on his own and in 2003 the company folded up.
He registered the African Heritage House that he ran till his death.
He is survived by his sister Marylin Cornish of Colorado.
