Dresden
The Urban Decolonisation Walk, organized by Jugend- & Kulturprojekt e.V. on September 3rd, was facilitated by Maria Francesca Mele, the Project Manager for UDEW. A preparatory phase involved conducting research to understand and frame the different types of colonialism represented in various locations. Participants’ ages ranged from 18 to over 60, including both locals and foreigners.
To encourage active participant engagement, additional materials were prepared:
Non-formal education materials included on the right feature a quote from Frantz Fanon (1961):
“Not so very long ago, the earth numbered two thousand million inhabitants: five hundred million men, and one thousand five hundred million natives. The former had the Word, the others had the use of it.”
Using this quote, participants were encouraged to reflect on how colonialism has shaped the narratives of local populations, often imposing identities or exploiting them for the benefit of those in power. This powerful statement underscores the dynamics of language and authority during colonial times, highlighting how the colonizers maintained control over narratives and identities while marginalizing the voices of the colonized.
The blocks with pictures of the locations allowed participants to document their reflections and insights on the spots visited.
Other activities encouraged participants to reflect on their roles in shaping urban narratives and to raise awareness of the colonial past that affects contemporary history, identity, and society.
One exercise invited participants to engage with a story from a first-person perspective, exploring actions a fictional character could take to rethink the city inclusively through story-telling methods. This approach aimed to inspire creative solutions for fostering inclusivity in urban environments.
The theme of redefining urban spaces prompted participants to identify key aspects necessary for a city to be inclusive, anti-colonial, and anti-racist.
Finally, participants proposed three specific actions they would like to implement in their own urban areas, empowering them to translate reflection into tangible steps toward greater inclusivity in their communities.
Discovering Dresden
The walk commenced at Jorge Gomondai Platz, the site of a racist attack in 1991 that resulted in the murder of a man from Mozambique. While participants were familiar with the story, many had overlooked the commemorative monument. This serves as a reminder of how urban spaces can symbolise values, emotions, and a past we strive not to repeat. As Christoffer Kølvraa and Britta Timm Knudsen pointed out in “Decolonizing European Colonial Heritage in Urban Spaces
– An Introduction to the Special Issue” (2020), it is crucial to recognise that all symbolic commemorations of the past involve social actors striving to govern, control, and shape collective emotions. Cities and urban spaces transcend mere physical locations; they also represent emotional landscapes where the past, especially colonial history, continues to shape the present. These sites hold memories and narratives that elicit powerful emotions such as sadness, mourning, or pain, particularly when linked to traumatic events or oppressive practices from the colonial period.
Next, we visited the Sarrasani Fountain, which symbolizes the long-standing tradition of the circus. This fountain, dedicated to the Sarrasani circus, is linked to the colonial legacy of early 20th-century European entertainment. The founder, Hans Stosch-Sarrasani—known as “The Maharajah” in the circus world—built his circus around exotic imagery, often donning a Maharajah costume for his famous elephant acts. Established in 1901, the circus showcased non-European cultures, particularly Indian, reflecting the colonial fascination with the “exotic.” This practice was part of broader trends, including ethnological exhibitions or “human zoos,” where Indigenous peoples were displayed as spectacles. One of Sarrasani’s successors, Cliff Aeros, gained notoriety for his performances at Circus Hagenbeck, which was known for such exploitative displays. While the monument celebrates the circus, it also serves as a reminder of how these performances contributed to the colonial gaze and the dehumanization of non-European cultures in popular entertainment.
We then moved to the Old Town city center, stopping at Fürstenzug and Brühlsche Terrasse. In 1589, a lime-based mural was created on a wall that deteriorated over time. In 1865, historical painter Wilhelm Walther proposed a new design featuring a 100-meter-long mural depicting a procession of Saxon rulers from the House of Wettin, one of Germany’s oldest and most significant dynasties. This work was completed between 1873 and 1876. Notably, in one segment of the mural, “Heinrich der Fromme” (Henry the Pious) is depicted with his Black servant, intended to illustrate the cosmopolitanism and wealth of the rulers.
The terrace previously housed the popular Café Reale, modelled after a Greek temple, until its demolition in 1886 for the construction of the Kunstakademie. As colonization and imperialism progressed, luxury goods, including coffee—symbolic of economic colonization—became prevalent. This highlights the economic exploitation of resources and people during the colonial era.
Lastly, we visited the Yenidze, a tobacco factory completed in 1909 and designed in the style of a mosque to navigate city regulations prohibiting industrial structures that disrupted the aesthetic of the city. This unique architectural choice also served as an advertising symbol for oriental cigarette brands. Partially destroyed during World War II, the building was designated a historical monument after 1990 and has been meticulously restored to its original design. The mosque-inspired architecture reflects the West’s fascination with and engagement with “other” cultures, often characterized by an “exotic” appeal.
Drawing from Faustine Rousset
The walk through these five locations in Dresden examined colonialism and its enduring legacy, inviting participants to reflect on how we can navigate urban spaces with greater awareness. The mapping event aimed to encourage participants to consider their roles as citizens in rethinking public spaces to be more inclusive and representative.