Preserving Heritage: Lamu Old Town’s Leap into the Metaverse

At Nomad Africa, we are dedicated to uncovering and sharing unique stories that reflect the authentic history and heritage of remarkable places. Our last visit to Lamu Old Town revealed an extraordinary narrative demonstrating how modern technology can play a pivotal role in the preservation and conservation of Lamu’s cultural legacy.

This journey is spearheaded by Abutwalib Mohamed, a remarkable young entrepreneur who has experience in historic urban and building conservation, and he introduced us to "Lamu Virtual," an ambitious project bringing Lamu Old Town into the metaverse. Abutwalib’s initiative is an innovative endeavour that immerses individuals in Lamu’s history, culture, heritage and conservation efforts online. Through Lamu Virtual, people can now experience iconic events like the Lamu Yoga Festival and the Lamu Cultural Festival remotely, essentially creating a virtual twin of Lamu.

The inspiration for Lamu Virtual arose during the COVID-19 pandemic when a significant decline in tourism prompted Abutwalib to explore virtual reality (VR) and extended reality (XR) technologies as a means to experience Lamu remotely. In January 2023, Abutwalib presented this visionary idea at the UNESCO World Heritage Futures Lab in Namibia. This event brought together community representatives and technical experts to explore how such technologies can aid in the preservation of local culture and heritage.

Since then, Abutwalib has rallied the community through the Lamu Heritage Site Community Organization (LAHESCO), explaining his vision and working closely with Michel and Marcel of Kinooni House, a stunning private villa in the heart of Old Town. Michel’s involvement extended to sponsoring two local community members to train at the Black Rhino VR Company in Nairobi. They learned to use 360 cameras and software crucial for developing the Lamu Virtual project.

With the guidance of local elders and under Abutwalib’s leadership, a comprehensive survey of Lamu Old Town’s narrow streets and alleys was conducted, documenting the old town’s historical neighbourhood names and every single monument. The Lamu Museums have granted him full access to the Kijumwa Youth Heritage Hub, where he can use it for the production and storage of the necessary tools. Today, Abutwalib ensures the community is prepared to carry out the groundwork, while Kinooni House seeks the necessary financial and technical support to bring this vision to life.

The Lamu Virtual project aims to educate and demonstrate how VR and modern technology can be tools for preserving cultural heritage. Additionally, it holds the promise of aiding Lamu’s future by providing a fully mapped Old Town, which will be instrumental in sustainable city planning and a deeper understanding of the town’s layout.  Through the innovative efforts of Abutwalib Mohammed and the support of the local community, Lamu Virtual stands as a testament to how modern technology can breathe new life into the preservation of cultural heritage. 

Would you like to help shape the future of Lamu through technology? Support the Lamu Virtual project.