The Kenyan capital city has become an exceptionally dynamic centre of banking and commerce. This development is due to the city's transnational networks and, in particular, to the Indian business community, which has played a central role in Nairobi since it was founded just over 100 years ago. As a hub for international organisations, including a major United Nations office, Nairobi is also important politically for all of East Africa and beyond. Under these circumstances, it may seem paradoxical to find vast poverty-stricken districts often directly bordering prosperous quarters. The exhibition's documentary module presents the historical development of the colonial city planning which laid the foundations for these urban island structures. Our view of Nairobi, though, is directed primarily to the links between these intertwined yet extremely different quarters which, through their polarities, drive the city forwards.

The documentary module provides a historical overview of city planning and segregation policies, the development of informal settlements, and the role of Indo-Kenyans in Nairobi.