Comparing Perceptions: Westerners and Kenyans Facing Swahili Tangible Cultural Heritage. An Inquiry on Gede, Mnarani, and Jumba La Mtwana Ruins

A striking disparity exists between the perception of Swahili coastal ruins as valuable heritage by Western tourists and their limited significance to local Kenyan communities, particularly the Mijikenda. While international guidebooks tout these 10th–18th century stone settlements—such as Gede, Mnarani, and Jumba La Mtwana—as must-see landmarks, a survey reveals that most locals rarely visit them and do not strongly associate them with coastal identity. The study suggests that contemporary snake parks integrated into these ruins, while popularizing the sites abroad, may overshadow their historical and cultural value for local populations. This research highlights the need to explore whether new connections between communities and tangible heritage are being fostered or if alternative interpretations of the past could bridge this perceptual gap.

Capriotti, G. (2023). Comparing Perceptions: Westerners and Kenyans Facing Swahili Tangible Cultural Heritage. An Inquiry on Gede, Mnarani, and Jumba La Mtwana Ruins. Roczniki Kulturoznawcze, 14(3), 21–34. https://doi.org/10.18290/rkult23143.2