Reshaping the present

The lecture addresses the urgent question of reshaping the present in the context of German colonial history. Mirrianne Mahn, of German-Cameroonian origin, has a split role - as a German woman who emphasizes the responsibility to come to terms with the colonial past, and as a descendant of victims of colonialism in Cameroon.

The focus is on the theft of cultural identity in West Africa, using the example of the restitution debate on the Benin bronzes, which attracted global attention. The difficulties and dilemmas of restitution are discussed, from the quantification of suffering to the question of eligibility. Mirrianne Mahn emphasizes that reparation does not only mean the material restitution of artifacts, but also includes the recognition of history, healing and consideration of the impact on descendants. The lecture will be combined with a reading from her novel Issa, which spans the story of 5 women over a period of 100 years, starting in the German colony of Cameroon.

The discussion about reparations is only one part of the larger conversation about healing. Mirrianne Mahn poses the question of what an active reappraisal can look like in order to realize the ideals of freedom and justice for all. A dialog about our colonial past and the responsibility to shape a more just future.

The language of the talk is German.