Amid the historical layers of Berlin, have you noticed this Gedenktafel das Afrikanische Viertel Plaque? This plaque marks a place undergoing significant change. It shifts from a colonial monument to a site of learning and remembrance. This transformation acknowledges anti-colonial resistance. It also recognizes the independence of African nations.
The Gedenktafel das Afrikanische Viertel Plaque is positioned in a district that reflects Germany’s colonial past. The area reveals how colonialism once held a prominent place in German society. This prominence faded after the war. From 1899 to 1939, the district evolved. It mirrored the rise and endurance of German colonial ambition. This ambition persisted through shifting political landscapes. It spanned from the Prussian Empire to the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich.
Berlin aimed to showcase itself as a colonial metropolis. The Gedenktafel das Afrikanische Viertel Plaque stands in a district intended to do just that. Dr. Ibou Diop noted Berlin’s role in structuring colonialism. The Berlin Africa Conference, from 1884 to 1885, saw European powers divide Africa.
The district’s creation began in 1899. It was located on the northern edge of the capital near Seestraße. Streets were named after Togo and Cameroon. These were former German colonies in West Africa. Historians debate who initiated this. Ulrich van der Heyden suggests Kaiser Wilhelm II ordered it. Kopp and Krohn credit Ernst Friedel, a city councilor, with the idea. Friedel advocated for German colonies.
Carl Hagenbeck, who organized “Tier- und Menschenausstellungen,” also influenced the area. Hagenbeck planned to feature “Völkerschauen” near Volkspark Rehberge. These plans were proposed later in 1912. World War I prevented their realization.
In the late 19th century, Africa and colonialism were popular topics in Germany. The Kolonialausstellung in Treptower Park in 1896 demonstrates this. Christian Kopp and Marius Krohn stated the district aimed to glorify German colonial rule. It sought to embed it in public consciousness.
Street names were assigned to mirror the acquisition of German colonies. Even after Germany lost its colonies after World War I, the practice continued. The popular colonial revisionist movement of the Weimar Republic expanded it. The loss of colonies made the topic even more prominent.
The Ghanastraße forms a unique exception. Dedicated in 1958, it honored Ghana’s newly gained independence. It also marked the visit of the Ghanaian head of state.
Initiatives to rename problematic streets began in the post-war period. These efforts increased in the 1980s. The focus was on streets named after individuals involved in colonial injustices.
Since the turn of the millennium, protests have grown louder. People from the Black community saw colonial street names as racist provocations. In 2018, political agreement was reached. Anticolonial resistance figures would be honored as new namesakes.
Nachtigalplatz, named after Gustav Nachtigal, became Manga-Bell-Platz. Nachtigal was instrumental in establishing colonies in Togo and Cameroon. He secretly worked to bring territories under German “protection.” Emily and Rudolf Duala Manga Bell are now honored. Rudolf opposed German colonization in Cameroon. He was executed for “high treason”. The renaming ceremony in December 2022 included Cameroon’s ambassador and King Jean-Yves Eboumbou Duala Bell.
Lüderitzstraße, named after Adolf Lüderitz, became Cornelius-Fredericks-Straße. Lüderitz acquired land that became “German South-West Africa.” Cornelius Fredericks led resistance against German colonial power in Namibia. He died in a concentration camp in 1907. At the street sign unveiling in 2022, the Namibian ambassador called for recognition of the genocide against the Herero and Nama.
The Gedenktafel das Afrikanische Viertel Plaque stands as a reminder. It is a testament to a changing narrative. It acknowledges the painful history. It also celebrates the resilience of those who fought against colonial oppression.