Transnationale Konferenz „Prussian Colonial Heritage - Sacred Objects and Human Remains in Berlin Museums“
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Event information
| Müllerstrasse 74 13349 Berlin |
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Prussian Colonial Heritage: Sacred Objects and Human Remains in Berlin Museums
Centre Francais de Berlin
About
The debate concerning the provenance and future of items acquired in the wake of European colonialism has intensified in recent times, due to the current German project which aims to reconstruct the imperial Berlin Palace and once again display the world’s cultural treasures in the building. Above all this debate concerns translocated “materials of sacred significance” and human remains, items which belong to a category defined by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and the UN as “sensitive materials”.
Both of these organizations require the museums to expeditiously “initiate dialogues” with the source communities in order to discuss “the return of cultural property”. However, within the current debate concerning Berlin’s non-European collections the opinions of those who “have lost a significant part of their heritage” are hardly represented at all. Our conference will provide a platform for source community members and experts who should have been consulted “with respect and sensitivity” (ICOM) by the managers of the Humboldt Forum and of the Foundation Prussian Cultural Heritage (SPK) all along.
Program
October 14, 2017
9:30 am
Press conference by NGO alliance “No Amnesty on Genocide” with OvaHerero and Nama activists on the Federal Court session on Oct 13th related to their Complaint against Germany and on the finding of human remains from Namibia in New York
11:00 am
Opening by Mnyaka Sururu Mboro & Christian Kopp, Berlin Postkolonial e.V.
11:15 am
Welcome address by Senator for Culture and Europe Klaus Lederer
11:30 am
Panel I with Nadja Ofuatey-Alazard (DE), Bénédicte Savoy (FR/DE), Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung (CM/DE) presented by Noa Ha
1:00 pm
Break
2:00 pm
Panel II with Ronald Niezen (CA), Peju Layiwola (NG, tbc), Roxley Foley (AU) presented by Regina Sarreiter
4:00 pm
Break
4:30 pm
Panel III with Shiynyuy Semaiy Gad (CM/DE), Caroline Mchome (TZ), Ohiniko Mawussé Toffa (TG) presented by Karen Taylor
6:30 pm
Book launch by NGO alliance "No Humboldt 21!"
7:00 pm
Break
8:00 pm
Film screening “Headhunting” directed by Martin Baer (DE), 2001
October 15, 2017
11:00 am
Opening by Mnyaka Sururu Mboro & Christian Kopp, Berlin Postkolonial e.V.
11:15 am
Welcome address by Elisabeth Kaneza, Fellow of the UN Decade for People of African Descent
11:30 am
Panel IV with Red Haircrow (USA/DE), Mnyaka Sururu Mboro (TZ/DE) and Zulu Gama V (TZ, tbc) presented by Tahir Della and Konradin Kunze
1:00 pm
Break
2:00 pm
Panel V with Hiroshi Oda (JP, video), Waltrudis Ignatsia Ortman (NA), Esther Utjiuua Muinjangue (NA) and Fanuel Haukambe (NA) presented by Yann Le Gall
4:00 pm
Break
4:30 pm
Discussion of Conference Resolution
5:30 pm
End
Cooperation
NGO alliances “No Humboldt 21!”, Initiative of Black People in Germany (ISD), Centre Francais Berlin
Project
The conference is part of our project „Just Listen – Globalgeschichte von unten und zivilgesellschaftlicher Dialog”
Contact and registration
Christian Kopp | 01799 100 976 | buero(at)berlin-postkolonial.de
Conference Fees
10 Euros per day (to be paid on arrival)
Language
English
International Decade for People of African Descent
The conference takes place in the framework of the International Decade for people of African Descent. The General Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution 68/237 proclaimed the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024), with the theme “People of African Descent: Recognition, Justice and Development.” The Decade is a timely and unique opportunity to underline the important contribution made by people of African descent to our societies and to propose concrete measures to promote equality and to combat discrimination of any kind. It provides a solid framework for the United Nations, Member States, civil society and all other relevant actors to join together with people of African descent and take effective measures for the implementation of the programme of activities in the spirit of recognition, justice and development. The German launch of the decade took place on 7 June 2016 in Berlin. It was officially opened by the United Nations Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).Prussian Colonial Heritage : Sacred Objects and Human Remains in Berlin Museums.
Project
The congress is part of our 2016/17 project "Just Listen - Global History from 'below' and Public Dialogue"
With kind support:
Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken, Berliner Landesstelle für Entwicklungszusammenarbeit, Engagement Global im Auftrag des Bundesministeriums für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung, Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, Stiftung Partnerschaft mit Afrika e.V.
Für die Inhalte der Publikation ist allein die bezuschusste Institution verantwortlich. Die hier dargestellten Positionen geben nicht den Standpunkt der Senatsverwaltung für Wirtschaft, Energie und Betriebe wieder.
REPARATION WEEK 2017
The conference is part of a broader Reparation Week related to the 525th anniversary of Columbus' landing in America on October 12 in 1492 which will be celebrated in Spain, Italy and the USA this year. This program points at the necessity of symbolic and material reparations for more than 525 years of European colonialism in all parts of the world:
Thursday 5/10, 8 pm
Documentary "Skulls of My People" (V. Moloi, South Africa)
Hackesche Höfe Kino, Rosenthaler Str. 40/41, 10178 Berlin
Talk with director V. Moloi and Esther Muinjangue (NAM)
AfricAvenir International, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, Berlin Postkolonial
mehr ...
Friday 6/10, 4 pm
Tagung "Herero und Nama in Politik und Schule"
Centre Français Berlin, Müllerstraße 74, 13349 Berlin
Stiftung Partnerschaft mit Afrika e.V.
mehr ...
Saturday 7/10, 10 am
Tagung "Herero und Nama in Politik und Schule"
Centre Français Berlin, Müllerstraße 74, 13349 Berlin
Stiftung Partnerschaft mit Afrika e.V.
mehr ...
Thursday 12/10, 9:30 am
Konferenz "'Entwicklungshilfe' oder Reparationen?"
Bürgerhaus am Schlaatz, Schilfhof 28, 14478 Potsdam
Brandenburger Entwicklungspolitische Informationstage BREBIT
mehr ...
Friday 13/10, 7 pm
Ausstellungseröffnung "Zurückgeschaut. Die Erste Deutsche Kolonialausstellung 1896 in Treptow"
Museum Treptow, Sterndamm 102, 12487 Berlin
in Kooperation mit Initiative Schwarze Menschen in Deutschland ISD und Berlin Postkolonial
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