Dekolonial Erinnern … für postkoloniale Ethik
Decolonial Memories … for postcolonial ethics
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German Colonial Restitution Monitor

  • Decolonial Challenges for Germany’s New Government

    After the exit of the „traffic-light” coalition, the question arises as to how the new government intends to address Germany’s colonial history. The programmes of the parties for the current election campaign show little ambition in this regard. It will therefore be up to civil society forces to help shape remembrance work and demand political…

  • (De)Koloniale Baustellen für neue Regierung

    Nach dem Ampel-Aus stellt sich die Frage, wie die nächste Bundesregierung die Aufarbeitung der deutschen Kolonialgeschichte angehen will. Die bislang bekannten Wahlprogramme der Parteien, bis auf die Grünen, lassen wenig Engagement für das Thema erkennen. Es kommt daher auf zivilgesellschaftliche Kräfte an, die Erinnerungsarbeit mitzugestalten und politische Initiativen von den Regierungen einzufordern.

  • Conference Report „Cameroon’s Cultural Heritage in Germany“

    This conference reports summarises discussions at the national conference on the publication „Atlas of Absence – Cameroon’s cultural heritage in Germany“, held 3 to 5 October in Yaoundé. The responsible Cameroonian-German research team is led by Prof Albert GOUAFFO (University of Dschang) and Prof Bénédicte SAVOY (Technical University of Berlin). Deutsche Fassung des Berichts am…

  • Interview with Dr Valence Silayo (University of Dar es Salaam)

    In this interview, Dr Valence Silayo from the University of Dar es Salaam addresses the entangled history between Tanzania and Germany. He highlights the extreme colonial violence in his country and calls for restitution of ancestral remains and cultural heritage as well as reparations. His present work as guest researcher at Linden Museum Stuttgart focuses…

  • Interview with Princesse Marilyn Douala Bell

    In a touching interview, Princesse Marilyn Douala Bell, Director of Doual’art, talks about her memory work on German colonialism in Cameroon. She provides details on the exhibition and symposium „Once upon a time – Birth of the State of Cameroon“, scheduled for end of October 2024 in Yaoundé.

  • Berlin Meeting on Declaration by Cameroon’s Civil Society for Return of Cultural Heritage

    In August 2024, the Cameroonian Civil Society Declaration on the return of looted cultural heritage was presented in Berlin. The Declaration was received with much interest and appreciation. Participants explored ways how German actors could become involved in addressing colonial legacies and restitution together with Cameroonian partners.

  • Civil society statement from Cameroon on return of colonial loot

    The civil society statement from Cameroon on the return of objects and artefacts looted during colonisation identifies threats and opportunities for future action. It puts special emphasis on Cameroon’s relationship with its former colonial power Germany.

  • Interview mit Léontine Meijer-van Mensch zu ihrem Abschied von Sachsen

    In einem faszinierenden Interview zieht Léontine Meijer-van Mensch ein sehr persönliches Resümee ihrer fast sechsjährigen Tätigkeit als Leiterin der Staatlichen Ethnographischen Sammlungen Sachsen.

  • Culture Commissioner withdraws controversial paper

    What place does colonialism have in Germany’s culture of remembrance? The question is all the more urgent after Culture Commissioner Claudia Roth withdrew her controversial draft „framework concept“. Together with partners in former colonies, German civil society should now engage in conversations on a multi-perspective memory culture.

  • Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and colonialism

    On 5 June 2024, Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock delivered a keynote address at the launch of the book „The Foreign Office and the Colonies“. While some commentators regret that she did not present a comprehensive strategy for dialogue with former colonies, others see the speech as a promising start for decolonizing Germany’s Foreign Service.