Chao Tayiana Maina, a Kenyan and the founder of African Digital Heritage, has been announced as one of the winners of the Dan David Prize 2023 worth Ksh 38 million.
She has been recognized for her use of digital technologies to capture and preserve historical narratives that were previously hidden or suppressed in Kenya. Her initiative has enabled communities to engage with their cultural heritage and to centre African histories within digital spaces.
Chao’s work is particularly timely, as many African and Afro-diasporic audiences seek to reclaim their past and assert control over their identities.
Chao Tayiana Maina @ChaoTayiana winner of the #2023DanDavidPrize is a public historian who uses digital technologies to capture and preserve previously hidden or suppressed historical narratives in Kenya, enabling communities to engage with their cultural heritage. pic.twitter.com/gfXXXASJCW
— Dan David Prize (@DanDavidPrize) February 28, 2023
The goal of the initiative is to aid those seeking answers to pressing questions about their personal histories by providing access to narratives from the past.
Chao is a specialist in digital heritage, working at the intersection of digital humanities and public education. Her work involves using technology to uncover historical narratives that were previously hidden or suppressed and making them accessible to a wider audience, allowing communities to engage with their cultural heritage actively.
The Dan David Prize acknowledges the contributions of individuals such as historians, art historians, archaeologists, digital humanists, curators, and documentary filmmakers who enhance our understanding and knowledge of the past.
Congratulations to @ChaoTayiana Maina, founder of @AfricaDHeritage, for winning the #2023DanDavidPrize for her work as a “pioneering public historian who demonstrates remarkable leadership and creates digital spaces that expand our knowledge of African heritage and culture.” pic.twitter.com/C9yoGmofWf
— Dan David Prize (@DanDavidPrize) February 28, 2023
Chao is among the 11 winners of the prize for 2023. Each recipient will be awarded $300,000 to recognize their achievements in the study of the past and support their future endeavours.
This story by Samira, originally appeared on KenyanVibe on March 2, 2023.
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