Eternal memorial: new plaque at the anti -colonial monument in Bremen unveiled
Eternal memorial: new plaque at the anti -colonial monument in Bremen unveiled
On July 12, 2025, a significant step in the update of the colonial past was celebrated in Bremen. Virgine Kamche Kamche from Africa Network Bremen spoke in front of the anti -colonial monument and emphasized the importance of the new memorial stone. This inauguration took place as part of an event in which the IG Metall youth, trainees of the Mercedes-Benz plant and members of the "Der Elefant" support association took part. Weser Report reported that the first memorial plaque was already attached and smeared over the years, so that restoration was essential. Jerome Geisinger, youth secretary of IG Metall Bremen, underlined this necessity and hoped that the new table will draw attention to German colonialism.
The anti -olonial monument itself is located in the Nelson-Mandela-Park in the Schwachhausen district and was originally inaugurated in 1932 as an imperial skolonial monument. It represents an elephant made of brick and symbolizes the examination of German colonial history. In the past, the monument was considered a central symbol of German colonial thinking until the Bremen citizens decided in 1989 to devote it into an anti -colonial monument. Since then, the victim of the genocide of Herero and Nama in Namibia has been commemorated every year in particular in August. Wikipedia adds that the monument has also been officially protected for local history and artistic reasons since 2008 and the care association "The Elefant!" is responsible for.
a critical examination
During the inauguration, the participants were optimistic that the new board is a small but important step towards an enlightened culture of remembrance. Kamche criticized that colonialism was often hushed up and demanded a greater commitment to exchange with the African continent. The context of the event reflects a broader debate about past crimes and the need to process it. Deutschlandfunk emphasizes that Germany has been confronted with a certain ignorance of its colonial past for over a century, where It is interesting that other cities like Berlin are also working on the culture of remembrance. There are initiatives here that deal with the processing of colonial history. In the context of genocide negotiations with Namibia, it will continue to be discussed how the memory of these events can be better established in this country. A rethinking is necessary, after all, streets are named after colonial actors in many cities, which shows a significant need for action.The inauguration of the new memorial stone is not only a sign of memory, but also a call to more perspectives and a critical dialogue about the colonial past. There is still a lot because of us to promote an inclusive and diverse society in which such topics find their place. Former colonies such as Namibia have a lot to tell and earn.
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| Ort | Nelson-Mandela-Park, Bremen, Deutschland |
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