Sensing Sites: Colonial Memory in Bavaria. Systems of Knowledge, Collections and Gaps

Ibrahima Sene, a Germanist and historian specialising in African history, will shed light on Bavaria’s colonial connections in the first talk of the evening, examining Black history and African perspectives as part of a contemporary, inclusive culture of remembrance. His work demonstrates how the colonial past continues to have an impact in the present day and what role local sites of remembrance play in highlighting gaps in our understanding. In doing so, he combines historical research with current debates on decolonisation, restitution and social participation.

Holger Stoecker will then speak about colonial provenance in the State Collection of Anthropology in Munich. Drawing on the collection’s holdings, he explores the stories that academic collections tell about colonial violence, the production of knowledge, and the acquisition of human remains and other objects. His presentation demonstrates how provenance research reveals hidden connections and opens up new perspectives on dealing with colonial heritage, the culture of remembrance and restitution.