After almost four decades of criticism of the honoring of the criminal founders of German colonies in Africa, Nachtigalplatz in Germany's largest colonial district will be ceremoniously renamed Manga-Bell-Platz on December 2nd, 2022 at 11 a.m. and Lüderitzstrasse will be ceremoniously renamed Cornelius-Fredericks-Strasse at 12 p.m.
The renaming in honor of African personalities of the resistance against German colonial rule is largely the result of the initiative of Afro-diasporic and solidarity non-governmental organizations . These include the Initiative Black People in Germany (ISD), Each One Teach One (EOTO) and Berlin Postkolonial, the sponsors of the project "Dekoloniale Memory Culture in the City."
From now on, the rebellious Duala rulers Emily and Rudolf Duala Manga Bell and the Nama captain Cornelius Fredericks, who were victims of the German unjust regimes in what is now Cameroon and Namibia respectively, will be honored as new namesakes. The renaming of Petersallee to Maji-Maji-Allee and Anna-Mungunda-Allee can only be carried out at a later date due to the pending lawsuit by a local resident.
At the suggestion of the non-governmental organizations, the Berlin-Mitte district will also erect three information and memorial plaques in 2023 to provide information about the old and new namesakes in the "African Quarter". Dekoloniale is also planning a larger exhibition project in public space for 2024.
Anna Yeboah, overall coordinator of the Dekoloniale project, says: "With the long overdue street renamings, Germany's largest colonial monument will develop into an important anti-colonial place of learning and remembrance. We will continue to promote symbolic compensation by honoring the resistant victims of German colonialism."
Contact : presse(at)dekoloniale.de
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Call for signing a petition by December 27, 2022:
On November 30, the Petitions Committee of the Bundestag published the petition for the rehabilitation of Rudolf Duala Manga Bell and Alfons Ngoso Din on its website. This petition can be discussed and signed here until December 27, 2022:
