In 1989, Alan began construction of what would become Africa's most photographed house-The African Heritage House. The house's inspiration depicts the towering mud of the Great Mosque of Djenne in Mali, the mud palaces of Morocco, Swahili architecture of the East African coast, Zanzibar and Lamu; and the traditional houses of Ghana and Burkina Faso. The house was inaugurated 5 years later in 1994.
The house is home to thousands of objects, collections of artworks, paintings, artifacts, ceremonial costumes, weaponry, tools, jewellery, textiles, brassware and traditional pottery. It was classified and gazetted under the National Museums and Heritage Act in 2016.
In June this year, Donovan announced that African Heritage House was on the block. In a statement sent to media houses, Allan stated that "As the owner of African Heritage House, I hope to pass on the house with all of its rare and valuable contents collected over the last 50 years to a buyer or buyers who will preserve the house as a national monument".
"I find that having a board of trustees for the house will not be enough. It must have permanent ownership by people who will nurture it. I hope to find compatible buyers with whom I can continue working on a museum and Pan-African Studies Centre near the house."
The fate of African Heritage House is currently unclear after the passing of Donovan.
He will be remembered for his love of art and as a champion of Pan-Africanism.
