Marianne Ballé Moudoumbou [ENG]

What word comes to your mind when you think of the Humboldtforum / Berliner Schloss? Please explain.

The new in an old form [New wine in old bottles]. This has something to do with [the fact] that many of the objects which are exhibited come from other collections. This implies that in a way there is kind of a recycling, but according to the same methods. This implies that many of these objects were not yet reviewed with regard to their origin, that means they were not reviewed with regard to the path which they took to be in Berlin now. And as you, as we know, there are many goods, many objects including art objects and even remains which took a tragic path to be in Berlin now. In other words this work isn’t done yet.

Do you think that Germany should pay reparations to the Herero and Nama communities that were affected by and dispossessed during the genocide from 1904-08? Please elaborate.

This has to do with culture of remembrance. I am surprised that the genocide is not admitted yet! I believe that Germany pointed out other nations and countries and almost mocked that it is so hard to admit to genocide. However, how about the Maafa, how about this huge destruction from slavery to the present age and about the repercussions which Ovaherero and Nama have to put up with?! I believe it is about time that reparations are paid and that this takes place by mutual agreement, meaning in consultation with the Communities of Ovaherero and Nama, who are suffering to this day from this.

Do you think that a memorial and information center concerning the topic slavery, colonialism and racism should be built in Berlin? Please elaborate.

I am among the people who initiated a committee to raise an African memorial and if we are doing this, it implies that we consider it indispensable/essential! And what’s important about this initiative is that we are doing it from the perspective of quote “affected people,” meaning from the perspective of people with direct African roots or historical African roots! [The aim is] to give us a voice; additionally, and that we can give diverse representation of this tragic time.

What’s your take on the many human remains from the Global South that are kept in German museums until today?

One single word: Shame! I believe this is one of the demands of the Ovaherero and Nama congress. There must not be any research on us without our permission! You see, this is just like the terms for communities and people, which haven’t been changed yet. We are still talking about the “I-“[discriminatory term for First Nation people]; although this was an error by Columbus. There are things which don’t change 500 years later, 300 years later, a century later, why is that? It’s about time that it happens! There must not be research in this manner and I will go one step further: the people who were active during the Nazi period are every so often those who are still responsible for social policy matters. This is the case for example for Sinti and Romani people. And this is a shame! It’s unacceptable that remains of humans are stored away somewhere in museums! I believe it’s about time that it changes!

According to you, how important is the equal and conceptional contribution of descendants of colonized people to handle the colonial past (i.e. negotiations regarding reparations, museums, exhibitions, representation in schoolbooks, street renaming etc.)?

First of all- I don’t like the word “colony“ and “colonialism“! In Latin “colo” means “care”- I don’t see what that has to do with “caring”! For me it is Maafa, which means “huge destruction” in Kiswahili and with this we come closer to the truth. So, where genocides took place, rape, torture- you cannot call this “colonialism” anymore! This is the starting point. And this is exactly the point. The way an era is called, a history is told, this has consequences for the present and the inner human condition- and we are talking about holistic health. You cannot be healthy when you are still suffering from the repercussions of such destruction! And it is just part of the human dignity to be able to deal with this, with another rebuilding. And rebuilding means obviously material reconstruction, but it also has a spiritual dimension. And as long as not all of the people who have something to do with this immediately, or directly or indirectly participate in such a process you cannot talk about equality; you cannot even talk about human dignity and least of all about democracy!

Do you think such a participation/involvement is taking place in the reappraisal in Germany?

It is so hard to even be able to talk about racism! It is so hard to even say that evil was done ! There were tragedies. Planned genocides, planned tortures, mass tortures took place. It is so hard that one may be free to say so! And of course, it is also about questions like: how does democracy work? How is it possible to ensure that everyone participates in the process? What about Leadership?- These kinds of questions come up. However, I believe it is necessary to ask oneself these questions in order to make a joint, peaceful and even happy coexistence possible.
This is according to what the UN decade for people with African – I always say African roots, but officially it’s African Descent – says. However, important is that the three pillars are recognition, justice and development. And recognition and justice means also to admit genocides which were committed, and to implement measures with the participation of the affected communities, and it is high time that this is also happening in Germany.

And by the way, if we talk about the participation of the affected communities, it is important that there is equal participation! That means that women can co-determine. And that they have access to all areas of negotiations according to the UN-resolution 1325 on „Women, Peace and Security,“ which means participation of women and access to all peace processes and all negotiations. That also counts for Ovahereros and Namas, and I think they are already looking forward to it!