MAREJESHO – Talk with descendants on the restitution of ancestors to Tanzania

May 13, 2024, 7 – 9 p.m.

Venue: At the Marejesho exhibition.

For decades, families from Tanzania have been demanding the restitution of the remains of their ancestors: executed leaders of the resistance against the colonial power in so-called German East Africa. Around 1900, thousands of ancestral remains were sent from the colonies to Berlin, among other places, for racist research. As part of the MAREJESHO research exhibition, it was possible for the first time to identify some of the missing leaders through DNA comparison. However, many families still do not know where their ancestors are. And even the return of those identified for burial in their homeland is proving difficult. In a public talk, descendants speak about their search and the urgency of bringing their ancestors home. Decolonize Berlin will also present the app wewantthemback.berlin, which was developed together with descendants and offers an initial tool for searching for ancestral remains.

With

Zablon Kiwelu and Sindato Ndesamburo, descendants of Akida Sindato Kiwelu
Felix Kaaya, descendant of Mangi Lobulu Kaaya
John Mbano, descendant of Chief Songea Mbano
Anael Meli, descendant of Mangi Meli

Moderation: Sarita Mamseri (UCL London), Konradin Kunze (Flinn Works)

An event by Flinn Works, Decolonize Berlin, Berlin Postkolonial and Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung.