Kolonialismus begegnen

Colonialism is part of Berlin's complex history. As the capital of the German Reich, Berlin was the center of German colonial policy from 1884 to 1918. Before and after this period, the metropolis was interwoven with colonialism in many ways. For a long time, civil society initiatives in Berlin and around the world have been calling for this historical responsibility to be faced. Even though current debates show a growing awareness of the colonial past and its current references, a broad public debate on the topic is still in its infancy.

Against this background, Berlin's district and regional museums deal with colonialism, its critique and its consequences in and for Berlin. In association with civil society organisations and initiatives, academia and other cultural institutions, they work on a decolonisation of Berlin's urban history. What colonial traces and continuities, which stories of criticism and resistance can be made visible? With their decentralised perspective, the district museums mark places, follow life paths and locate events in colonial urban history. In doing so, they also look at colonial references beyond formal German colonial rule.

Kolonialismus begegnung collects traces and voices on post/colonialism. The website documents the research processes and results from Berlin's districts and is continuously updated with new content. It invites visitors to conduct independent research on places, topics and people in the context of Berlin's post/colonial history and to encounter colonial traces on site – from Treptower Park to Grunewald, from Pfaueninsel to Friedrichstraße to the African Quarter.

It also provides information about exhibitions, projects and events of the district and regional museums and cooperation partners – with the aim of stimulating research and exchange on colonialism and the postcolonial present as a joint process.