Colonialism & Resistance — 2025 Focus

In Berlin, we engaged with two sites that stand in opposition to each other:

The Humboldt Forum — a rebuilt castle and monumental institution that is contested for its architecture and display of collections acquired in colonial contexts.

BARAZANI.berlin — successor of the initiative NoHumboldt21! and a small space on the other side of the river Spree. Today it is a room for critical reflection, activism, and community-led narratives, offering counter-perspectives that challenge dominant historical accounts.

By placing these two institutions side by side, we aimed to equip our Fellows with tools to question power structures inside and outside the museum, recognise the politics of representation, and imagine more just museum futures. This approach is central to TheMuseumsLab’s mission: Connecting African and European museum professionals to confront colonial legacies, exchange knowledge, and co-create pathways towards equitable, inclusive museum practice.