The Nairobi Serena Hotels’s Architectural, Cultural and Conservation tour takes you on a fascinating voyage of discovery across the continent – and is highly recommended!
On my last trip to Nairobi, I stayed at the fabulous – gorgeously renovated – Nairobi Serena Hotel. Over breakfast (an event in itself!) I planned a day’s sightseeing.
I was disappointed to see the rain falling and reluctantly shelved my plan to take a short walk through Uhuru Gardens to the Murumbi Gallery at Point Zero. The Murumbi Gallery started as the private collection of Joseph and Sheila Murumbi who travelled the continent to curate a mind-boggling collection of artefacts that present African culture through hundreds of years of craftsmanship. The scope and beauty of the Murumbi Gallery’s collection is breath-taking. I have to visit every time I’m in Nairobi.
When I learned that the Nairobi Serena Hotel has their very own Architectural, Cultural and Conservation Tour, you can imagine my delight! In fact, this unique hotel tour is led by the highly professional concierge Felix Tiony who was trained at the very same Murumbi Gallery. There was no need to brave the rain: I could have my cultural experience (with a personal guide) within the comfort of the hotel.
Felix, a Concierge Clefs d’Or, explained how Alan Donovan, chairman of Murumbi Gallery and mastermind of the phenomenal Heritage House, had been curating interiors at Serena Hotels for over 40 years! My affection for Nairobi Serena grew deeper by the moment.
Click on the images in the gallery to read about some of the items on display.
Fragrant flowers are always a central part of the Serena Hotels’ decor. Here in Nairobi, next to the huge floral displays are intriguing historical artefacts, statues and carvings.
I believe the Architectural, Cultural and Conservation Tour is only supposed to take one hour but I was so full of questions that I’m sure I must have taken up three hours of Felix’s time!
This tour is complimentary for hotel guests and Felix has a wealth of interesting details about the artefacts on display. He also revealed the Pan-African theme throughout every space in the hotel. As he described the motifs and their origins, I perceived the same shapes in the flooring, in etchings on glass windows, on furniture. It was thoroughly engaging.
Established in 1976, the Nairobi Serena is certainly not just another Nairobi city hotel. I had a great feeling for its sense of history and its Pan-African theme.
The hotel’s architecture reflects a fusion of cultural influences from West Africa, Morocco, North Africa and Islam. Click on the images below to see the Bambara Lounge, named after the Bambara community of Mali and designed around a West African theme. The gorgeous hand-carved camphor wood panels depict African legends and superstition. The backdrop to the Mandhari Fine Dining Restaurant is a 60-foot Kisii soapstone mural of the Ngong Hills by Jony Waite. I loved the colourful lanterns, tapestry screens and Moroccan-inspired brass decorations of the Cafe Maghreb restaurant, also pictured below. The Ethiopian-themed Aksum Bar is named after the Northern Ethiopian town. The Kingdom of Aksum reigned at the heart of ancient Ethiopia until the 13th century. The Aksum Bar’s unique style is fittingly fun for a sports bar!
My guide Felix pointed out the motif of ‘an abstracted lizard,’ that originates from the Senofu people of Cote D’Ivoire where it can be seen carved on doors and is believed to be a sign of wealth and status. This is just one of many interesting symbols that run throughout the design of the hotel. (By the way, descriptions of various artefacts here are taken from the exquisite book My journey through African heritage by Alan Donovan, which is available in the Nairobi Serena gift shop).
The Architectural, Cultural and Conservation Tour is also available at the Serena Beach Resort & Spa in Mombasa and Kampala Serena Hotel and is complimentary to all in-house guests.
If you’d like to experience the Nairobi Serena Hotels’s tour for yourself, call +254 (0)202 842333 / (0)732 123333. Read more about the fabulous Nairobi Serena Hotel’s 5 star facilities in my Travel Directory. It’s gorgeous beyond words!
An interesting article:
“As African Art Thrives, Museums Grapple With Legacy of Colonialism”
Museum leaders met in Washington D.C. to talk about what’s next for the continent’s cultural sector
Read more on the Smithsonian Institution web site: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/african-art-thrives-museums-grapple-legacy-colonialism-180973535/
My tour of the Nairobi Serena Hotel ignited a big interest in Benin.
“This ivory relic reveals the colonial power dynamic between Benin and Portugal”
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/magazine/2021/01-02/ivory-saltcellar-reveals-colonial-power-dynamic-benin-portugal/
My tour of the Nairobi Serena Hotel ignited a big interest in Benin.
“This ivory relic reveals the colonial power dynamic between Benin and Portugal”
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/magazine/2021/01-02/ivory-saltcellar-reveals-colonial-power-dynamic-benin-portugal/
“New museum in Nigeria raises hopes of resolution to Benin bronzes dispute
Artefacts held by British Museum and other western institutions were looted by British forces in 1897.”
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2020/nov/14/new-museum-in-nigeria-raises-hopes-of-resolution-to-benin-bronzes-dispute-david-adjaye/