Postcolonialism

Das ist kolonial.

Westphalia's (in)visible heritage

14.06.2024 - 26.10.2025

Not only Hamburg and Berlin, but also Westphalia has many connections to colonialism: people from the region moved to the colonies as missionaries, farmers or soldiers. Entrepreneurs and industrialists drove German colonial policy forward, while merchants traded in coffee and tea. Citizens became involved in colonial and missionary associations, attended human zoos, donated to monuments and named streets after colonial figures. People from ‘overseas’ also lived here. The consequences of colonialism continue to have an impact today and shape our society. The exhibition ‘Das ist kolonial.’ (That's colonial) builds on collaborations and results from a participatory workshop held in 2023. The resulting interviews, artistic works and films open up new perspectives and highlight how history and the present are linked.

Logo POWR! Postkoloniales Westfalen-Lippe

Logo Kulturstiftung

Logo Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft NRW

Logo Landeszentrale für politische Bildung NRW

Blick auf beleuchtete Stelen mit Porträtfotos

What does colonialism have to do with me?

The colonial era is officially over. Nevertheless, the continuities of colonialism continue to influence us to this day. Where can the consequences of this period be seen in our lives today? Nine people from Westphalia and the surrounding area answer this question. They provide insights into their personal engagement with the colonial past and the post-colonial present. We would like to invite you to ask yourself the question: What does colonialism have to do with me?

Phyllis Quartey

‘My parents grew up in a colonised country. There were certain rules they had to live by, there were restrictions in everyday life.’

Phyllis Quartey, * 1987, Wuppertal

As an education officer and activist, Phyllis Quartey has been addressing the issues of (post-)colonialism and racism for many years. Through her work, she aims to raise awareness of these issues. She is particularly involved in the Decolonise Wuppertal and Stop the N-Word initiatives. As a poet, she also processes and communicates topics that are important to her on an artistic level.

Interview (German)

Joanna Peprah

‘I don't have the privilege of choosing to deal with it; racism and colonialism were imposed on me before I could even speak.’

Joanna Peprah, * 1986, Köln

The activist, presenter and therapist has been campaigning for years to raise awareness of racism and anti-Black racism. Since 2010, she has been a member of the Initiative Schwarze Menschen in Deutschland e.V. (Initiative of Black People in Germany), for which she is a spokesperson and advisory board member in the Cologne local group. She is co-founder of the initiative N-Wort Stoppen (Stop the N-Word) and is active in the cultural scene in the Rhineland and North Rhine-Westphalia as a consultant, speaker and curator. In 2022, she was appointed as an expert to the Cologne (Post)Colonial Heritage Committee. In 2023, she received the Cologne Volunteer Award for Democracy and Diversity for her commitment.

Interview (German)

Richard D.

‘The more I read, the more I realised that I am a classic racist without meaning to be.’

Richard D., * 1957, Dortmund

‘Am I a racist? Yes and no. About two years ago, I was asked to mediate in a case of racism. I quickly realised that I knew nothing about racism. The mediation was ultimately successful, but as I learned about racism, I was confronted with some shocking revelations. Today, I know that I want to and must take action!’