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For smartphone & PC
Smartphone instructions
Hold and swipe the circle on bottom left to walk
Use circle on bottom right and direct your view
PC Instructions
Use the keys W,A,S,D to walk.
Use your mouse to look around.
What is Milele Museum?
Milele Museum is Africa’s first digital museum dedicated to the preservation, celebration, and reclamation of African cultural heritage. Founded in 2021 in Rwanda, it showcases and digitally conserves artifacts, stories, and knowledge from across the African continent, starting with Rwanda, Kenya, Sudan, and Nigeria. Milele utilizes immersive digital experiences, including Virtual Reality, to offer a borderless and interactive exploration of African culture, history, and art.
What is the mission of Milele Museum?
Our mission is to reclaim, preserve, and share African heritage by using cutting-edge
digital technology and community engagement. We aim to foster self-awareness and cultural
pride among Africans and provide accessible, engaging representations of African culture to a
global audience.
Why was Milele Museum founded?
Milele Museum was born from the desire to counteract the colonial legacy of African
artifacts displayed in Western institutions without context or respect for their cultural
significance. Our founders, Canda and Melissa Kurkut, sought to create a museum that
embodies the African perspective, showcases artifacts in environments that reflect their origins,
and challenges the traditional “white cube” model of Western museums.
Who are the key collaborators in Milele Museum?
Milele Museum collaborates with African artists, curators, digital creatives, and
researchers. Key collaborators include:
● Urban Gurus (Nairobi-based video game developers) main producers and curators of
space of Kenya
● Looty (an AfroTech collective known for digital repatriation) curator space of Benin
Kingdom
● Hadia Eltom (Sudanese cultural strategist) curator of space of Sudan
Together, this diverse team brings to life a rich representation of African heritage.
What countries are currently represented in the museum?
Milele Museum currently represents the cultures of Rwanda, Kenya, Nigeria (specifically the Benin Kingdom), and Sudan (Kingdom of Kush). We aim to expand to all 54
African countries, offering immersive, community-centered exhibits that reflect each culture’s
unique heritage.
How does Milele Museum differ from traditional museums?
Unlike traditional museums, Milele challenges the “white cube” aesthetic, creating
exhibits that mirror the original contexts and environments of artifacts. This approach provides a
holistic view of African heritage, merging ancient traditions with contemporary digital
interpretations. We focus on living cultures, not isolated objects, and our virtual exhibits
empower communities to take ownership of their heritage.
How does Milele Museum address the issue of digital vs. physical restitution?
While we do not see digital surrogates as a replacement for physical restitution, we believe digital platforms offer a powerful interim solution. Physical restitution remains the goal, but until that is possible, Milele provides a way for communities to interact with and reclaim their
heritage digitally. Digital preservation also ensures these stories and artifacts are accessible and
celebrated worldwide.
How is Milele Museum’s approach to museology unique?
Milele Museum challenges Western museological practices by emphasizing community involvement and cultural authenticity. Our exhibitions are created in collaboration
with local artists, cultural experts, and community leaders who ensure that the exhibits honor the intended representation and context of each culture. This approach opposes the static, objectified presentation of African artifacts in Western museums.
What technology does Milele Museum use?
Milele Museum uses advanced digital technologies, including 3D scanning, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and software such as Blender and Unreal Engine to reconstruct and display artifacts. We collaborate with institutions worldwide to obtain digital assets and create interactive exhibits,
blending technology with storytelling.
What kind of content can visitors expect in Milele Museum?
Visitors can explore a variety of interactive digital exhibits, including:
● 3D reconstructions of artifacts.
● Virtual landscapes that replicate cultural environments, such as the pyramids of Meroë in Sudan.
● An interactive game called Umuvuno focused on traditional African medicinal plants.
● Virtual storytelling characters like Tupu, the guardian of Milele Museum.
These exhibits are accessible on mobile devices, desktops, and Virtual Reality headsets.
What are Milele Museum’s long-term goals?
Our long-term vision is to represent all 54 African countries within Milele Museum and create a comprehensive platform for African cultural preservation. We aim to increase
accessibility, especially for African youth, and promote the reclamation of African narratives globally. Through ongoing partnerships and community workshops, we are committed to creating a future where African heritage is actively owned, celebrated, and protected by African
communities.
How are the interactive experiences structured?
Our interactive experiences include virtual reconstructions of cultural settings, where visitors can explore artifacts as if in their natural environments. For example:
● In the Kenya exhibit, visitors encounter a digital village reflecting Kikuyu and Luo
architecture, along with cultural artifacts like the Ndoome Shield and Luo ceremonial
headdress.
● In Rwanda, visitors see traditional huts, the Inyambo royal cow, and an Umuvuno game
centered on traditional herbal medicine.
What challenges has Milele Museum faced?
Challenges include limited access to some artifacts for 3D scanning, cultural censorship on global platforms, and the complexities of navigating digital restitution. Additionally,
our social media page faced censorship due to a misunderstanding of traditional African attire, highlighting the challenges of presenting African culture within Western-controlled digital spaces.
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