Text by Valerie Addae 

Tour: Colonial traces in Tanzania Park I 22.03.2025

The International Week against Racism has been held annually in the Hanseatic City of Hamburg since 2016. The week is used to publicly set an example against racism, discrimination and exclusion and to stand up for a diverse, united and just society. The introduction of the week was inspired by the tragic event in South Africa, the Sharpeville massacre, in which numerous people demonstrated peacefully against the apartheid regime's passport law. During the demonstration, unarmed demonstrators were killed by the police. The UN declared the week an International Day against Racism, Discrimination and Oppression.

The Sharpeville massacre illustrates the deep-rooted nature of colonial structures. As a colonial power, Germany also had an influence on oppression in Africa, using violence, exploitation and propagating racist ideologies. The German colonial era, which is often suppressed or trivialized, has left visible traces to this day - even in the heart of Hamburg. This is precisely where Tansania AG comes in: Through creative and educational projects, the colonial past is made tangible - for example in the Tanzania Park in Jenfeld.

As someone of African descent, I was particularly moved by the sight of the monuments in Tanzania Park in Jenfeld. These statues, which recall the colonial past, are not just historical relics - they reflect the violence and oppression that many people from my homeland had to experience. It was a moment of pause, a reflection on the far-reaching consequences of this history for us. It was a mixture of sadness and anger, but also a certain sadness about how rarely these dark chapters are discussed. At the same time, however, I feel a strong connection with all those who are fighting for their rights and a better future.

I had not known that a park in Hamburg contained such impressive monuments - powerful testimonies to the colonial past. That was new and surprising for me.

I also really liked that the tour ended with a rap that summarized everything - a creative and engaging way to bring history to life. I would recommend this experience to others.

Workshop: Talking about discrimination - because we want to I 23.03.2025

The workshop offered an intense experience: in an accompanying anti-bias workshop, discrimination was not only defined as unfair treatment based on group affiliations, but also as a phenomenon that is closely linked to power relations. Different forms of discrimination were discussed - from individual discrimination to institutional disadvantage and structural exclusion - which impressively illustrated the complexity and omnipresence of this topic.

Personal experiences that combined theoretical understanding with tangible realities flowed into lively discussions. What was missing for me, however, was clear guidance for those affected on how to deal with discrimination and the mental impact of these experiences on the individual. From this gap, it is clear that the way to overcome discrimination still needs further development.