Cultural Reparations Tour: Reclaiming Memory, Restoring Dignity
“Our journey through Nandi and Nairobi reminded us that reparations are not just about the past; they are about reclaiming our future.”
Blog by: Eunice Adhiambo Odhiambo; Reparations Officer, Africans Rising
In October 2025, Africans Rising joined a Pan-African delegation on a Cultural Reparations Tour following an invitation from Kimberly Poole, Executive Director of the Teaching Artists Institute (TAI) and a member of the movement.
The tour brought together an inspiring mix of Pan-African leaders, scholars, and cultural practitioners including Senator James Sanders Jr. (New York State, USA), Dr. Haki Ammi (President, TAI), Kimberly Poole (Executive Director, TAI), and Eunice Adhiambo Odhiambo (Reparations Officer, Africans Rising) alongside participants from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and the USA.
The mission was clear: to deepen the global reparations conversation through culture, memory, and storytelling; connecting communities that have endured the wounds of colonisation, enslavement, and erasure, yet continue to stand in dignity and resilience.
Nandi Gaa Festival: Honouring the Spirit of Koitalel Arap Samoei
The first stop was Nandi County, in Kenya’s Rift Valley Region, where the delegation joined the community in commemorating the 120th anniversary of the legendary resistance leader, Koitalel Arap Samoei.
Despite a national period of mourning following the passing of Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga, the event carried deep cultural and spiritual significance. Participants experienced a vibrant display of Nandi cultural heritage; from traditional dances and warrior performances to exhibitions of attire, beadwork, initiation and wedding ceremonies, and the community’s rich food traditions. The celebrations culminated in a powerful panel discussion on cultural reparations, featuring sons and daughters of Africa from across the globe, who reflected on identity, healing, and the collective journey toward restoration.
The group toured Sheu Morobi Cliff, a site of ancestral passage, and the newly rediscovered Arab slave trade trails; tangible reminders of Africa’s untold histories. Conversations with the Nandi Kaburwo Council of Elders, the Koitalel family, and the County Government revealed the magnitude of historical injustices that stripped the Nandi of their land, culture, and identity.
The delegation committed to supporting the repatriation of Koitalel’s head and artefacts from the UK, the rewriting of Nandi history, and co-hosting a Reparations Conference in Nandi in 2026. Engagements with Aldai Technical Training Institute and Koitalel Arap Samoei University College also sparked plans to establish Borderless Africa Clubs; spaces for youth-led Pan-African learning.
Wakati Wetu Reparations Festival: Africa’s First Reparations Festival
From Nandi, the journey continued to Nairobi for the historic Wakati Wetu Reparations Festival; Africa’s first-ever festival dedicated to reparations. Held at Entim Sidai Wellness Sanctuary in Nairobi on October 22–23, 2025, the event was a powerful convergence of art, scholarship, and activism.
Organised by Reforms Initiative, African Futures Lab, and Baraza Media Lab, the festival used film, music, storytelling, and visual art to engage participants on memory, healing, and restoration. Voices from across the world; Africa, the Caribbean, North America, and Europe; came together to share reparations stories and build collective vision.
“We felt grounded and inspired; we learnt, we connected, and we rediscovered our collective African soul.”
A particularly moving moment came when the Koitalel family renewed their plea for international support to repatriate Koitalel Arap Samoei’s head and personal artefacts. Their call was received with solidarity, reminding participants that reparations are not symbolic gestures but acts of restoration, justice, and healing.
Outcomes and Commitments Moving Forward
The tour strengthened partnerships and inspired concrete action:
- Collaboration with TAI on the Cultural Reparations Framework, to be presented to the President of Ghana in December 2025.
- Participation in the Cultural Reparations Festival in Arusha, Tanzania (November 19–22, 2025).
- Co-organisation of the Nandi Reparations Conference in 2026.
- Expansion of Borderless Africa Clubs in schools and universities.
- Continued advocacy for the repatriation of African heroes’ remains and artefacts.
Through art, dialogue, and ancestral remembrance, the Cultural Reparations Tour reaffirmed that Africa’s healing begins with telling the truth; about what was lost, what was taken, and what must now be restored.
Looking Ahead: A Call to Remember and Rebuild
This journey was not just about looking back; it was a forward movement of the African soul. It reminded us that reparations are multi-dimensional; cultural, emotional, spiritual, and economic. We extend deep gratitude to our hosts and partners; Teaching Artists Institute, Africans Rising, Nandi County Government, Koitalel Arap Samoei Foundation, and all the communities that opened their hearts and histories to us.
As we move forward, we do so in the spirit of Koitalel Arap Samoei and countless ancestors who fought for a free, united, and borderless Africa.
