The so-called Berlin Africa conference/Congo conference took place in Berlin between November 1884 and February 1885 on the invitation of the then chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Fourteen nations participated, Germany, Great Britain, France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Russia, Turkey, Austria/Hungary, The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway/Sweden, and the US.
It was at this conference that Africa was divided among the colonial powers like a piece of cake. This conference was a starting signal for the scramble for Africa and sealed the fate of
It was at this conference that Africa was divided among the colonial powers like a piece of cake. This conference was a starting signal for the scramble for Africa and sealed the fate of
[We] have been engaged in drawing lines upon maps where no white man's foot ever trod, we have been giving away mountains and rivers and lakes to each other, only hindered by the small impediment that we never knew exactly where the mountains and rivers and lakes were.
Lord Salisbury, head of the British delegation to the Berlin Africa conference in an interview with the London times on 7th August 1890.
|
|
Objectives of the tribunal
Objectives of the tribunal will be to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Berlin Africa conference in the same city where Africa was originally divided while examining this historic event and its implications on the economic, political and cultural reality of Africans today.
The less known German colonialism will be addressed exposing unprecedented atrocities. The first official concentration camps of the Germans were established in today’s Namibia with all its ugly cruelties, such as so-called medical experiments in Lüderitz Bucht to prove the superiority of the “white race”. Many Africans were murdered and used as guinea pigs for inhuman experiments. Years later the same methods were applied in Hitler’s Germany on other minorities.
Objectives of the tribunal will be to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Berlin Africa conference in the same city where Africa was originally divided while examining this historic event and its implications on the economic, political and cultural reality of Africans today.
The less known German colonialism will be addressed exposing unprecedented atrocities. The first official concentration camps of the Germans were established in today’s Namibia with all its ugly cruelties, such as so-called medical experiments in Lüderitz Bucht to prove the superiority of the “white race”. Many Africans were murdered and used as guinea pigs for inhuman experiments. Years later the same methods were applied in Hitler’s Germany on other minorities.
Background
Africa. Africa was divided arbitrarily and each country was assigned a ruler. This is one of the main causes of today’s border conflicts. As one of the participants stated:
The genocide on Herero, Damara, and Nama is one of the less known in history. Ninety percent of the total population of Hereo was disseminated. This was the first genocide of the 20th century.
Another important aspect to be addressed, besides the transatlantic slave trade and slavery, are the contemporary forms of anti-African/anti-Black racism. Here we expect contributions from different coutries in Europe, and the US, to address the various forms of anti-African racism and to share experiences and forms of resistance. We will try to link the impact of slavery and colonialism as a main source of contemporary racism. Since the dehumanisation of Africans then, and racist attacks today in Europe and US are the direct consequences of these historical events. The number of racist violence and murders against Africans is disproportionately higher than other minorities, even though the African population is the smallest. In face, this is the case in Germany, and no concern from the state has yet been echoed.
Method
We have chosen to use the method of a people’s tribunal with a jury, defendants, voices of victims and expert witnesses.
Jury
Prof. Kapet de Bana (Law, coordinator from the World Council of the Panafrican Diaspora) Paris
Dr. Hamdou Rabby Sy (Philosoph) Paris,
Dr. Fanta Kaba,(Economy) Paris
Dr Mutombo Kanyana , (International Law, Director from the african Popular University)
Frau Malaak, Shabazz, Daughter from Malcom X, USA
Dr Kimani Nehusi, London
Dr Abuy Nfuba, Journalist, University Madrid,
and more...
Venue
Berlin, Germany
Date: 25-26 February 2010
Another important aspect to be addressed, besides the transatlantic slave trade and slavery, are the contemporary forms of anti-African/anti-Black racism. Here we expect contributions from different coutries in Europe, and the US, to address the various forms of anti-African racism and to share experiences and forms of resistance. We will try to link the impact of slavery and colonialism as a main source of contemporary racism. Since the dehumanisation of Africans then, and racist attacks today in Europe and US are the direct consequences of these historical events. The number of racist violence and murders against Africans is disproportionately higher than other minorities, even though the African population is the smallest. In face, this is the case in Germany, and no concern from the state has yet been echoed.
Method
We have chosen to use the method of a people’s tribunal with a jury, defendants, voices of victims and expert witnesses.
Jury
Prof. Kapet de Bana (Law, coordinator from the World Council of the Panafrican Diaspora) Paris
Dr. Hamdou Rabby Sy (Philosoph) Paris,
Dr. Fanta Kaba,(Economy) Paris
Dr Mutombo Kanyana , (International Law, Director from the african Popular University)
Frau Malaak, Shabazz, Daughter from Malcom X, USA
Dr Kimani Nehusi, London
Dr Abuy Nfuba, Journalist, University Madrid,
and more...
Venue
Berlin, Germany
Date: 25-26 February 2010
Tribunal to remember the scramble for Africa
Kooperationspartner:
Global Afrikan Kongress Deutschland
Global Afrikan Kongress Deutschland
Projektträger
Afrika-Rat Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.
www.afrika-rat.org
Vorsitzender: Moctar Kamara
Telefon: +49 (0) 1721797958
Der Afrika-Rat Berlin Brandenburg e.V. wurde am 28.5.2005 gegründet und ist ein Netzwerk und Interessenszusammenschluss von 37 Vereinen und Initiativen der afrikanischen Diaspora in Berlin und Brandenburg.
Wichtigste Aufgabe des Afrika-Rates ist es, die gemeinsamen Interessen der afrikanischen Diaspora in Berlin und Brandenburg zu bündeln und zu vertreten.
Mehr unter www.afrika-rat.org
Der Afrika-Rat ist für seine Arbeit auf Spenden und Mitgliedsbeiträge angewiesen
Spenden an den Rat sind steuerlich absetzbar
Konto Nr. 702242
BLZ 210 602 37
bei Evangelische Darlehensgenossenschaft
Afrika-Rat Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.
www.afrika-rat.org
Vorsitzender: Moctar Kamara
Telefon: +49 (0) 1721797958
Der Afrika-Rat Berlin Brandenburg e.V. wurde am 28.5.2005 gegründet und ist ein Netzwerk und Interessenszusammenschluss von 37 Vereinen und Initiativen der afrikanischen Diaspora in Berlin und Brandenburg.
Wichtigste Aufgabe des Afrika-Rates ist es, die gemeinsamen Interessen der afrikanischen Diaspora in Berlin und Brandenburg zu bündeln und zu vertreten.
Mehr unter www.afrika-rat.org
Der Afrika-Rat ist für seine Arbeit auf Spenden und Mitgliedsbeiträge angewiesen
Spenden an den Rat sind steuerlich absetzbar
Konto Nr. 702242
BLZ 210 602 37
bei Evangelische Darlehensgenossenschaft
Koordinator/Ansprechpartner
des Projekts "Tribunal"
Yonas Endrias, Gobal Afrikan Congress Deutschland.
E-mail: contact@tribunal-afrikakonferenz-berlin.org
Tel.: (030) 23186266
Mobil: 0179-9404690
des Projekts "Tribunal"
Yonas Endrias, Gobal Afrikan Congress Deutschland.
E-mail: contact@tribunal-afrikakonferenz-berlin.org
Tel.: (030) 23186266
Mobil: 0179-9404690
Gefördert durch:
den Integrationsbeauftragten des Berliner Senats
den Integrationsbeauftragten des Berliner Senats
