First-ever PH exhibition at Nairobi Nat’l Museum opens

Guests take their time to enjoy the exhibit and ask questions from Nairobi PE personnel to learn more about the textiles (DFA photo)

MANILA – The Philippine Embassy in Nairobi, led by Ambassador Marie Charlotte G. Tang, opened the first-ever Philippine exhibition at the Nairobi National Museum titled “Perfected by Tradition: Philippine Weaves” on June 17.

Over 50 guests from the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage, National Museums of Kenya (NMK), Asean Nairobi Committee, and faculty and students of the Department of Fashion Design and Marketing and the Department of Fine Arts and Design of Kenyatta University attended the opening ceremony and enjoyed the showcase of Philippine woven textile traditions.

Nairobi National Museum, the premier museum in Kenya, attracts thousands of students and tourists, both local and foreign, each year.

In her remarks, Tang noted that as Kenya is also known for its very rich and colorful textile traditions, the Philippine exhibit provides a good opportunity for Kenyans to discover their similarities with Filipinos despite the significant geographic distance between their respective countries.

“Philippine weaves are a tapestry of different colors, textures and materials. Every detail of a traditional textile is a product of craftsmanship and has a story to tell. The exhibit provides its visitors a glimpse into the lives, social structures, beliefs, and values of the Filipino people,” Tang said.

In his message read by Nairobi National Museum Principal Curator Mwanaima Salim, NMK Acting Director-General Stanvas Onga’llo said the NMK is honored to host the Philippine exhibition that celebrates humanity through both history and art.

He said he hopes that this would be the beginning of more partnerships between Kenya and the Philippines.

The guests, particularly students of fashion design, expressed how engaging and informative the exhibit was, and proposed a possible collaborative project in which they would create their own designs using various Philippine fabrics.

“Perfected by Tradition: Philippine Weaves” was organized in close collaboration with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the NMK to mark the Philippine National Heritage Month and the 124th Anniversary of Philippine Independence Day.

It will run from 17 June to 17 July 2022.