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Emma Schätzlein and Leipzig postcolonial, 2023

The colonial aspirations of the German Empire at the end of the 19th century promoted academic description, ordering, and mapping of territories, languages, ​​and groups of people.

In this context, within a few decades, the disciplines of African studies, Arabic studies (“Oriental Institute”), ethnology, and geography established themselves as independent institutes at the University of Leipzig. The often prejudiced academic work contributed to the racist construction of the “foreigner”. As stereotypical ideas about “the Orient,” “Africa,” and a racializing classification of human groups became entrenched, the devaluation of non-European culture became the social norm. The findings obtained in the supposedly scientific studies could be used to spread the ideology of “white superiority” and thus justify colonial appropriation.

Despite the critical questioning and reappraisal of the colonial production of knowledge by the disciplines themselves for several years, the legacy of this knowledge tradition continues to have an impact today – including in Leipzig.

Stationen

German Oriental Society

"Oriental Institute"

Institute of African Studies

Dr. Modilim Achufusi

Dr. Michael Garba Ashiwaju

Ethnological Institute

The Maji-Maji War

Colonial "skull collection" at the University of Leipzig

Institute of Geography

Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography

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