Where could a memorial site for colonialism emerge? - Berlin's Colonial Past: Memorial Push Gains Momentum
A coalition of civil society initiatives, led by literary scholar Ibou Coulibaly Diop, is pushing for a central memorial in Berlin to acknowledge and educate about Germany's colonial past. The memorial should be accessible, prominent, and located at a historically relevant site, although the timeline for this process remains uncertain.
Several historically significant locations in Berlin are being considered for the memorial and learning center. The Humboldt Forum at the Berlin Palace, which hosts exhibitions and discussions on colonial history, is one such site. The renamed Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Straße in Berlin-Mitte, with its connection to colonial legacies, is another. Meanwhile, Berlin's governing mayor Kai Wegner and Culture Senator Sarah Wedl-Wilson are traveling to Namibia's capital Windhoek to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the twinning of both municipalities. This trip comes amidst calls for a memorial to remember the Herero and Nama War, considered the first genocide of the 20th century, in which an estimated 75,000 people were killed.
In addition to a central site, a 'decentralized memorial landscape' and permanent structures are being demanded. Potential locations for the memorial include the former German Colonial Museum on the Moltke Bridge, the site of the former Royal Museum of Ethnology in Berlin-Kreuzberg, and the area at the carp pond in Treptower Park. Culture Senator Sarah Wedl-Wilson will oversee the search for an appropriate location.
The memorial is intended to serve as a central learning and memorial site in Berlin's center, providing a space for remembrance, education, and dialogue about Germany's colonial past. The search for a suitable location is ongoing, with the aim of creating a prominent and accessible site that will stand as a testament to Germany's colonial history and its impact on Namibia.
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