African Heritage founder Alan Donovan laid to rest

The late Alan Donovan, the founder of African Heritage Estates, has been laid to rest at his Mlolongo home which doubles as the Heritage headquarters.

Donovan passed away on December 5, in his sleep at his home.

The burial was graced by Sports and Culture CS Amina Mohamed who termed Donovan a cultural Icon who’s contribution to preserve and discover the African culture was unmatched.

“Alan to me was a university of culture and heritage."

The CS said the Government will continue to support Donovan's vision.

"Donovan came to Kenya more than 50 years ago and would play a unique role in the cultural affairs of the country and continent by dedicating his life to collecting art and preserving the African heritage,” Mohamed said.

“We will continue working on this project together and make this vision come true, not for Alan but for each and everyone of us and every African child coming after us."

Donovan arrived in Africa in 1967 with the US State Department as a relief officer during the Nigerian-Biafra war, a post he resigned from two years later.  

His gallery, co-established with the help of former Vice president Joseph Murumbi is located along Mombasa road in Athi River.

It is a masterpiece of the African culture and contains an invaluable collection of African art he collected over the years in Africa.

The gallery sits on a hill in an 8-acre piece of land.

It was built between the years 1989 and 1994 by Alan Donovan, who modelled it with inspiration drawn from the mud architecture of the Great Mosque of Djenné in Mali.

Also an author, he is credited as a man who spent his life documenting and telling stories of Africa in many newspapers and books including My journey through African heritage, African Elegance, An American in Africa, and 'Black Beauty Through the Ages'.

Edited by B. Oruta