Magazine, further reading & press
Library
Here you will find blog posts written by us, other recommended reading and what the press writes about us.
Blog posts & news
Takes place annually from December 26th to January 1st. Rooted in traditions and values of the African diaspora, Kwanzaa is primarily observed in the United States by African Americans and in the Caribbean, with a strong emphasis on Pan-Africanism
Born in 1902, was the child of Jacob Ndumbe, one of the first Africans portrayed in the so-called "human zoos" of 1896? Today, as part of our effort to honor the lives lost under the Nazi regime, we highlight a stumbling stone dedicated to Martha Ndumbe.
Little do people know that back in 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was established to actually put an end to World War I. This pivotal document was drafted by leaders from countries like the United States, France, Britain, and Italy. However, Germany was notably excluded from the negotiations. The treaty placed the blame for the war squarely on Germany and
the legacy of European missionaries in Africa, whose expeditions are often celebrated for their contribution to Europe's understanding of the continent. Yet beneath the surface of these glorified tales lies a tale full of moral deficiencies, exploitation of power, and cultural insensitivities. While the prime mission of missionaries was religious conversions, their journey of discovery unraveled the richness of African
M****straße in Berlin has been at the center of African-led initiatives fighting for its renaming for decades. Recently, there was a significant breakthrough: the city officially accepted the proposal to rename the street Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Straße, and celebrations erupted as the new name was unveiled.
When we talk about environmental champions, names like Betty Reid, Greta Thunberg, and Rachel Carson often come to mind. But today, let's celebrate a phenomenal African Shero whose groundbreaking work earned her the Nobel Peace Prize: Wangari Maathai.
Book recommendations in English
They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South
Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers
A groundbreaking book about the often overlooked role of white women in the American slave system. Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers shows how they actively participated in the slave market, profited economically and used brutal management strategies - a new look at power and responsibility in the history of slavery.
Afrotopia
Felwin Sarr
A powerful meditation and poetic call for an African utopia of self-reinvention in the 21st century. After colonialism, civil wars and the AIDS crisis, a new day seems to be dawning for the African continent.
The Wretched of the Earth
Frantz Fanon
A classic about the psychological and social consequences of colonialism
How Europe Underdeveloped Africa
Walter Rodney
A critical analysis of the economic exploitation of Africa through colonialism
Collective Amnesia
Koleka Putuma
A collection of political poems about decolonization and identity
The Kaiser's Holocaust:
Prof. David Olusoga
On 12 May 1883, the German flag was raised on the coast of South-West Africa, modern Namibia - the beginnings of Germany's African Empire.
Book recommendations in German
Gap and love
Josephine Apraku
A clever book about the invisibility of social inequality in romantic relationships. Josephine Apraku shows how discrimination also shapes intimate relationships - and how we can love more consciously.
Amon. My grandfather would have shot me.
Jennifer Teege
An impressive memoir about cultural trauma and personal identity. At the age of 38, Jennifer Teege discovers by chance that her grandfather was the notorious Nazi criminal Amon Göth - a realization that shatters her life and confronts her with profound questions about origin, guilt and identity.
Black studies
Ina Wudtke
The book is a multidirectional reminder of past and present anti-racist struggles in Germany. It documents Wudtke's audio installation Black Lives Audio Triptych and brings to life archive material - especially photos, songs and texts - about Fasia Jansen and Hilarius Gilges.
Being German and Black at the same time: Memoirs of an Afro-German
Theodor Michael
This book shows the often forgotten history of colonial migrants in Germany and their discrimination over the course of time - from initial acceptance to systematic exclusion. An important read to better understand the effects of colonialism and racism in Germany.
Black feminism
Natasha A. Kelly
Translated texts by Angela Davis, Audre Lorde, Kimberlé Crenshaw and others that shed light on intersectional feminism
Your home is our nightmare
Fatma Aydemir and Hengameh Yaghoobifarah
Essays on racism and anti-Semitism in Germany
Recommended documentaries
Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat
Johan Grimonprez
A documentary that shows the struggles of the Congo, exposes the role of the USA and Belgium and at the same time shows the colonial structures that still exist today.
Colonial roots of the genocide in Rwanda
DW Documentary
In April 1994, the parents of two-year-old Samuel Ishimwe were murdered in Rwanda. Their fate was shared by up to a million people in the genocide against the country's Tutsi minority. Thirty years on, Samuel sets out to discover what set these terrible events in motion.
Harriet - The path to freedom
Kasi Lemmons
Based on the moving and inspiring life of one of America's greatest heroines, HARRIET tells the extraordinary story of Harriet Tubman, the famed freedom fighter who defied all odds to change the course of her life and the fate of the nation.
Stamped from the beginning
Dr. Ibram X. Kendi
In his book, Dr. Ibrahim X. Kendi explains how "whiteness" was invented and why. This documentary visualizes his book and explains European history of the last 500 years.
The death and life of Marsha P. Johnson
David France
Pride Month and Christopher Street Day have become a global holiday. Find out how it all began with trans women of color, like Marsha P. Johnson.
African Queens: Njinga
Ethosheia Hylton, Adesuwa Oni
Find out more about the courageous and legendary female fighters against the European invasion of what is now Congo and Angola, such as Queen Nzinga.
Audio guide tours in Berlin
Coming soon...
deSta in the press
Are you interested in writing about us? Do not hesitate to contact us.
THE GUARDIAN
'Hidden in plain sight': the European city tours of slavery and colonialism
Ashifa Kassam
B.Z.
Berlin native Justice Mvemba wants to raise awareness as Miss Germany
Sabine Klier