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Phyllis Quartey and Decolonize Wuppertal, 2024

Wuppertal has a colonial history that continues to have an impact today. There are still colonially charged street and pharmacy names here, the history of the ‘Völkerschauen’ - ethnological shows - in the zoo, the unresolved history of artworks in museums.

Our Decolonize Wuppertal city tour covers a range of different aspects of colonialism: from the supposedly ‘honourable’ citizens and ambivalent actors of our city, who are no longer so heroic from a decolonial perspective. Of real heroes whose stories were not told for a long time. Of economic and religious entanglements that still have an impact today. Our city tour does not shy away from naming atrocities such as ‘genocide’. We don't look away; we stop and take the time to show that colonialism took place in our city. That people died in our city because of colonialism. In doing so, we always draw references to the here and now.

With this tour, we invite you to join us in dialogue, to reflect on your own actions and your own contribution to neo-colonial structures. This is not about apportioning blame but about raising awareness of injustice. Because only when our perception is sharpened we can strive for change.

Stationen

Eugen Langen, Wuppertal’s great hero and inventor?

Where people are turned into exhibits

Heritage and involvement in colonialism and looted art

The Rhenish Missionary Society

Helene Stöcker: Pacifist, anti-colonialist and feminist

The Rhenish West India Company

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