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Tour

Discover the African Quarter

Follow the traces of German colonialism in the African Quarter and discover stories of resistance, remembrance, and change. Learn more about the historical connections between the street names and the former German colonies. Discover a side of Berlin you’ve never seen before and understand why it remains important to this day.

About this tour

  • Takes place on
Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m. in German 🇩🇪
Saturday at 2 p.m. in English 🇬🇧
  • Duration
90–120 minutes
  • Meeting point
44 Swakopmunderstrasse, 13351 Berlin
  • Endpoint
Memorial plaque at Rehberge underground station
  • Accessibility
Wheelchair users, hearing impaired persons with appropriate equipment.

Your experience

✓ Why are some streets in Wedding named Togo Street, Cameroon Street, or African Street?

✓ How did the so-called African Quarter come to be?

✓ What stories do people like Emily and Rudolph Duala Manga Bell tell?

✓ Why are streets still being renamed today?

✓ What does colonial history have to do with our society and Berlin today?

✓ Featured on: ZDF, Deutsche Welle, Al Jazeera, and many more.

✓ ★★★★★ 5.0 (1,200+ reviews)

✓ Ticket price: €29 per person

Take a step back in time and explore the African Quarter and its fascinating history. Find out why the streets in Wedding are named after African cities or countries such as Togo, Cameroon, or Windhoek. Discover how the African continent has influenced German history over the past 140 years.

Join the conversation about street renaming and learn more about the resistance against German colonial rule, led by pioneers such as Rudolph and Emily Manga Bell, Anna Mungunda, and Cornelius Fredericks. Gain a new perspective as we discuss the impact of past events on the present.

- Tip for the tour guides

- Transportation from or to your own accommodation

- Drinks or snacks

- Rain or sun protection

Group tours can be requested for flexible times Monday through Sunday. Cash payments are accepted for public tours in exceptional cases. Dogs are welcome as long as they are well-rested (they need 18–20 hours of sleep per day) and kept on a leash. There are about 3 benches along the tour route. There are no restrooms along the route. If you need to cancel due to illness, you can reschedule your appointment. Just send us an email in advance with your order number and your preferred alternative date. Children under 13 do not need a ticket.

Select an available date and time.

Man explaining to a group of women during a queer city tour in Berlin, with a picture in his hand.

We offer private tours, workshops and lectures

Get out of the office or classroom! Take your friends and family on an exciting weekend trip! Come and experience a tour that will give you plenty to discuss and stimulate you.

To the booking form

Impressions

Our tour guides

A young woman with braided hair is standing in a green park, surrounded by trees.

Britney

she/her
"The future is based on an understanding of the past. As long as we do not confront Germany’s colonial history, colonial structures will persist. Through these tours, I hope to help raise awareness of the lasting effects of colonialism on our society and encourage critical thinking." - Britney is currently pursuing a master’s degree in sociology
Hamburg
German, English
A smiling woman with curly hair in a park, wearing a white shirt, with trees and soft light in the background.

Marissa

she/her
"Colonialism is not a thing of the past; rather, it continues to have an impact today in the form of social inequality and racism. The tours bring history to life and provide a safe space where people can engage in open dialogue."— Marissa is currently studying social work.
Black & Queer Feminism
German, English
A smiling young man with curly hair, wearing a striped shirt, stands in front of a modern building with plants.

Abdoul

he/him
"By teaching about colonialism, we not only understand a country's history, but also how global power structures came into being and why the world is the way it is today." —Abdoul is currently studying journalism, as well as social and cultural anthropology, in Berlin.
Sightseeing Tour
German, English, French
Black woman with short hair, smiling, in a leather jacket, sitting outside in front of wooden structure.

Justice

she/her
"My goal is to create incentives that motivate people to engage more deeply with colonialism and everything that goes along with it."—Justice is the founder and CEO of deSta.
African Quarter, Black & Queer Feminism, Museum Island, Sights, Hamburg, GDR
German, English
Smiling young man with braided hair in a yellow shirt, in front of a wooden wall outside.

Thil

he, they/ them
"I've always been interested in decolonial work because it's important to me to talk openly about different realities. Open and authentic discourse is very important to me."—Thil has a master's degree in organizational psychology with a focus on social and ecological transformation
Black & Queer Feminism
English

Frequently asked questions

Information about the tour

On this tour, we’ll explore Berlin’s colonial legacy in the Wedding neighborhood. We’ll discuss German colonial rule, the everyday reality of colonial ideologies, resistance to colonial oppression, and the importance of remembrance culture today. Among other things, you’ll learn: why streets were named after African regions and people, what role Berlin played in German colonialism, why some streets are being renamed today, and how colonial history continues to shape our cityscape and daily lives to this day
This tour is perfect for anyone who wants to get to know Berlin from a new perspective—regardless of whether you already have some background knowledge of colonial history. It’s especially suitable for: Berliners who want to better understand their city; visitors looking to explore beyond the usual tourist attractions; people interested in history, the culture of remembrance, and social issues; school classes, groups, and organizations
Yes. Our decolonial city tours can also be booked privately for families, groups of friends, schools, universities, companies, and organizations. The tour is offered in German and English. It is particularly well-suited for international visitors who want to get to know Berlin beyond the classic sights and are interested in German history, colonialism, and Black history.

General topics

You can postpone the date. Just write us an e-mail in advance with your order number and the desired alternative date.

Cancellations are not possible. 

Comfortable shoes, possibly a hot drink in a thermos flask or refreshing drink. Umbrella or sun protection depending on the weather.

We recommend participation from the age of 14.

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