Activists Call for Reparations, Colonial Reckoning at Berlin Conference

The Dekoloniale Berlin Conference 2024 is underway in Berlin, Germany, bringing together individuals from civil society, academia, and the arts across the African continent and its diaspora. The conference commemorates the 140th anniversary of the Berlin Africa Conference of 1884/5.

The event, running from November 14-16, aims to reflect on the history of the 1884/5 conference and its enduring consequences. Participants will discuss the legacy of European colonialism and explore pathways toward addressing its impacts.

Conference Participants and Speakers

The conference features a diverse group of delegates and experts, including social activist Farida Nabourema from Togo, award-winning author and broadcaster Gary Younge from the UK, Angolan artist Kiluanji Kia Henda, and Cameroonian lawyer Alice Nkom. These individuals will share their perspectives on the long-term effects of colonialism and potential solutions.

Reparations Workshop

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and African Futures Lab are jointly hosting a non-public workshop during the conference. This workshop will facilitate discussions among practitioners, communities, and activists regarding struggles, experiences, and strategies for advancing reparations. The workshop will examine various reparation processes, including negotiations between Namibia and Germany concerning Germany’s colonial crimes, reparations for the forced abduction of Metis children by Belgium in its colonies, discussions between Algeria and France regarding their colonial history, and negotiations between the UK, Mauritius, and the Chagos Islands. Journalists are not permitted to attend the workshop, but spokespeople from the participating organizations and conference delegates are available for interviews.

Historical Context: The Berlin Africa Conference

The 1884/5 Berlin Africa Conference involved European powers dividing the African continent for colonial control and resource extraction. The conference, held without African representation, disregarded existing geographical boundaries and formalized the process of colonization, resulting in significant and lasting repercussions.

Dekoloniale Berlin Project

Dekoloniale Berlin is a cultural project focused on critically examining Berlin and Germany’s colonial past and present, as well as the histories of their former colonies. The project encompasses online mapping initiatives, museum consultations, festivals, and think tank activities.