In cooperation with the Bonn Centre for Dependency and Slavery Studies (BCDSS), the Centre for Reconciliation Studies, and the Global Heritage Lab at the University of Bonn, a public evening event on German colonialism and the German-Namibian past took place on 11 March. Moderated by AIA Fellow Heloise Weber, German-Namibian political scientist Henning Melber, Julia Manek from Medico International, and Katharina B. Hacker from the International Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture (GCSC) at the University of Göttingen discussed how cooperation can succeed against the backdrop of coming to terms with colonial history, especially in light of the current global situation. The focus was on Germany’s first genocide in the 20th century in Namibia.

The discussion highlighted how present the consequences of colonialism still are in Namibia today and how little they are still present in Germany. All participants emphasised how much this past has left its mark on today’s geopolitics and diplomacy and how strongly it often continues to influence our debates on inequality and democracy, often unconsciously. Critical debate is essential for transnational efforts to build solidarity and ‘just repair, if such a thing is even possible.