Discovering Museum Island from a Decolonial Perspective

The Bust of Nefertiti and the History of Its Acquisition and Display

Taking a Critical Look at Cultural Artifacts at the Humboldt Forum and the Pergamon Museum

Berlin Cathedral and the Hohenzollern Crypt as Sites of Monarchical Power and Remembrance

The Role of the Hohenzollerns in the German Empire and Their Colonial Connections

A Famous Painting in the German Historical Museum and Its Significance for the Narrative of German History

W. E. B. Du Bois and His Time at Friedrich-Wilhelms University

Debates on Restitution, Provenance, and Colonial Legacy Connections Between Art, History, and Global Power Structures

Museum Island in Berlin is considered one of Europe’s most important cultural centers. But what stories lie behind the collections and institutions? This decolonial city tour invites you to view Museum Island from a critical perspective and to shed light on the colonial, monarchical, and global interconnections that continue to have an impact to this day.

The focus is on the cultural treasures of the Humboldt Forum, the Neues Museum, and the Pergamon Museum, such as the statue of Nefertiti, the Benin Bronzes, and the Pergamon Altar. Together, we will explore the historical circumstances under which these objects came to Berlin and the current debates surrounding restitution, ownership, and the culture of remembrance.

On our tour, we’ll also encounter the legacy of the Hohenzollerns. As we pass the Hohenzollern Crypt, we’ll take a look at the role of the Prussian monarchy and its ties to colonial projects and imperial claims to power.

In front of the German Historical Museum, we’ll take a closer look at a famous painting that offers insights into how power and the nation present themselves and critically examines the construction of German history.

Another highlight of the tour is the time that African American intellectual and civil rights activist W. E. B. Du Bois spent at what was then known as Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität. His time in Berlin and his engagement with issues of racism, colonialism, and global inequality open up perspectives that extend into the present day.