Download - Trust for African Rock Art

strong desire to protect and promote the unique culture ofhis people, the Abasuba, led him to build a small communitymuseum on the plot. He began to collect artefacts, and tocarry out research on Abasuba culture; he also liaised withlocal elders and the youth to encourage the protection of thenearby rock art sites. Jack officially transferred ownershipof his plot to the Suba County Council in 2007, therebyconfirming his commitment to the community.Jack, through the museum, mobilised the communities livingaround the rock art sites and helped them to organise sitemanagement committees that would be responsible for management of each site. Jack’senthusiasm and determination were infectious. Within months of meeting Jack, AmoloNg’weno, then TARA’s Chief Operations Officer, visited the ACPM and the Suba rock artsites. Amolo then sought funding from the US State Department through the US Embassyin Kenya for development of basic tourism infrastructure around the Mfangano rock artsites. The US Embassy granted TARA US$ 29,500 for the promotion of rock art tourism inKenya, including Suba District.14In August 2005, a high-powered delegation including the Minister for Heritage, Hon. NajibBalala, US Ambassador to Kenya, William Belamy, the US Embassy Cultural Attaché,Aruna Amirthanayagam, and the chairman of the Kenya Tourism Board, Jack Grieves-Cook, visited Mfangano Island to officially open the rock art sites to the public.After opening of the rock art sites to the public, there was a need for more resources todevelop a larger museum and community centre, signage, as well as piers and docks inorder to enhance visitors’ experiences at the sites. At the time, the Kenyan Government wasmaking efforts to develop a Western Circuit for tourism, so TARA saw this as an opportunityand subsequently submitted a proposal to the Tourism Trust Fund (TTF) for a communityproject with five interrelated objectives.The news of approval of a 14.5 million Kenya shilling (US$ 210,000) grant by the TTFwas received with great excitement at TARA and within the Suba community. Finally thetreasures of Suba District would be made available and marketed for tourism! Anticipationand expectation were high among the community members as TARA prepared toimplement, together with the Abasuba Community Peace Museum, its biggest communityproject ever.