Black journalist Tuyala: Reporter posing as a black man is a good idea (Germany)

Journalist Kani Tuyala was interviewed in a German news program about the film of German reporter Günter Wallraff, the film where Walfraff wanted to see what it’s like living as black man in Germany.

In the interview Tuyala says: I find the film a very good idea. I shows that this problem still exits. Racism in German is not being addressed, not even in the media.

Before the interview a shot is shown where Walraff wants to get into a disco in Rosendahl. He asks the doorman: “I want to go to the disco, why don’t let me in?” The doorman replies: “Africa is for Africa, Europe is for whites.”

Interesting detail. The interviewer says: “We as a German society are know for our “Weltoffenheit”. Weltoffenheit is a German concept that is meant to symbolise inclusiveness, multiculturalism and cosmopolitanism. I can only say: let others be the judge of that!

See the interview (video) on Kanis Blog (German)

Adé Bantu: rapping about the Afro-German identity

What is it like being black in Germany? "It's like being with a woman who you love, but who doesn't give you any attention," says the Nigerian/German musician Adé Bantu in an interview with qantara.

"Whenever Germany rejected me", he continues, "or gave me the feeling I don't belong here, and Germany has done that more than once, then I've said – phhhhfff. Then you say to yourself – hey, I'm not ugly, I'm not stupid and my heart's in the right place. That means there must be someone else out there who loves me. And I had that someone: Nigeria."

Adé Bantu is a musician and an activist. Back in 1994, he made the video and the song "Afro German", Adé was rapping about the Afro-German identity as a member of the hip-hop group "Weep not Child", and taking part in demonstrations against right-wing radicalism.

The video "Weep not Child" (1994) deals with not being accepted as a German.


When Neo Nazis in Dessau murdered 39-year-old Alberto Adriano from Mozambique in June 2000, Adé called all Afro-German artists in Cologne together "to finally break the silence." Soon after the The Brothers Keepers were born: a merger of mainly Afro-German soul, hip-hop and reggae artists, who fight against racism and right-wing extremism.

The clip "Bereit" (2005) deals with wanting to take on the fight against racism.


The Brothers Keepers is not just a musical project, but also a charitable association to which more than 90 artists now belong, among them numerous well-known musicians such as Samy Deluxe, Afrob, D-Flame, Toni L., Torch, Tyron Ricketts, Don Abi, Patrice, Xavier Naidoo, and many others.

Read the full interview here

Interesting detail. He co-directed Nigerian-German hip hop/soul singer Nneka's video "Africans".

Black media organisation AFROTAK wins second prize in competition “RESPEKT GEWINNT!“ (Germany)

The Afro-German media organisation AFROTAK cyberNomads has been awarded second place for its contribution in the competition „RESPEKT GEWINNT!“ of the “Berlin counsel for Democracy”.

The award ceremony of the Berlin counsel for Democracy will be held 02/12/2009 at 18.30h in HEIMATHAFEN in Neukölln.
More information at: www.berlinerratschlagfuerdemokratie.de

AFROTAK cybernomads was awarded second prize for the spoken word video, were black German, Afro German and blacks in Germany were invited to perform a spoken word piece about respect, tolerance and humanity.



After been awarded as BEST MEDIA Projekt 2005 by the African Youth Foundation, and as BEST MEDIA Projekt 2008 by Foundation for Democracy and Tolerance of the federal government, this new price will be added to the list.

AFROTAK cyberNomads

German reporter criticised for posing as black man in film

German reporter Günter Wallraff spent over a year travelling through Germany disguised as fictional Somalian man Kwami Ogonno for the film Schwarz auf Weiss ( Black on White ). His goal was to experience racisme at first hand, so he put on a blackface for the occasion.

And he succeeded. In East-Germany – of course - he was attacked by drunken youth. Read the full story here.

But Afro-German Noah Sow, author of Deutschland Black & White, criticised Walraff: “A painted white person is not a black person and cannot have the same experiences even if he thinks he can,” said Noah Sow, author of Everyday Racism in Germany . “Wallraff is earning money and respect on the backs of oppressed minorities.”

If you're not acquainted with Germany this film may seem as an eye opener, but racism in Germany doesn't need to be uncovered. Long before the 2006 FIFA World cup football tournament even the FIFA warned people of colour to stay away from the “rural areas” in East German Berlin.

And Günter? I think he wanted to be on the news again, but this time with a racism show with hidden cameras. If he really wanted to expose racism he could have used the black guy in the film. But I think the sole purpose of this black man was just to legitimate his blackface.

See shots of the film in the interview (German)

Afro-Punk: Debut album NOISEAUX – “Out Now” released today

The Afro-Punk band NOISEAUX has released its debut album NOISEAUX – “Out Now” today. The band of German media personality and writer Noah Sow will according to the record label inject Germany with the growing Afro-Punk wave from the USA and England.

About NOISEAUX The Hamburger Abenddblatt wrote: "But that a black singer is reacting to propulsive guitars and crunchy beats, is not the only characteristic of the quintet. The background of the band moves between Korea, the Philippines, Germany, Mexico, France and Senegal.”

The songs are about freedom, politics and racism. In the song “Keine Kommentare“ , which means “No comment”, Sow sings about the prejudice in Germany, “You think you’re normal .. No comment about my hair.” The Hamburger paper called it the short version of Noah Sow’s book “Deutschland Schwarz Weiß” (Deutschland Black & white. Everyday Racism' )

The CD is released in a German and English

Go to:
http://www.noiseaux.com
http://www.noahsow.de

Black British man attacked in Germany by neo-Nazi thugs

The Europa Passage shopping centre in Hamburg. A black British man has been beaten up in the city
A black British man is recovering after being attacked in front of his wife and child by neo-Nazi thugs in Germany. The incident took place on Saturday the 24th of August.

The 46-year-old unidentified man, believed to be from London, was in a baker’s shop in the port city of Hamburg on Saturday when thugs from the National Democratic Party approached him with leaflets calling for a ban on immigration.

'Here, take one of these with you back where you belong,' they said to him as he stood with his wife and four-year-old son.

They say the man ripped the pamphlet up and the men then pushed the Briton against a glass window. One man punched him while another sprayed pepper spray in his eyes.

Three suspects were apprehended later and prosecutors are now investigating them on suspicion of causing bodily harm.

The British man , who has not been named, was treated in a hospital and released.

An eyewitness said: 'The wife was screaming for them to leave her husband alone but they just heaped more racial abuse on her as her little boy screamed ‘leave my daddy alone!’ It was vicious and unprovoked.' Read the full article here

In the German newspaper Sueddeutsche this was written about the attack:
"The 46-year-old victim lived, according to the police in Hamburg, but has British citizenship. The man was standing with his wife and his little son at a bakery stand, where at that moment tree men in age of 23, 33, 43 were handing out flyers of the NDP.

When the Britton tore up the paper, it first came to a quiet conversation. Then however, the trio, according to police pushed him against the glass window of the bakery stand.

One of the suspects repeatedly struck him with his fist on his chest, another repeatedly sprayed pepper spray into his eyes.

After the attack, the men fled. But shortly after the attack the police arrested the men in the vicinity of the crime scene. After the police took their id, there were set free. A special German crime investigation department will determine bodily harm."

It's very strange that the attackers, according to the German newspaper, were set free after the attack. But also strange is the fact that German Neo-Nazis can flyer in a private mall without being kicked out. Is this 2009 or 1935?

For more information also see the post on the German blog: Black in NRW blog

On the blog is a video of Mo Asumang, an Afro-German moderator and author, who for her the documentary Roots Germania interviewed an NDP front man. She made an appointment for the interview, but she didn’t say she was black.

Nneka. Music from the Heart and Soul.

Nnekea is a wonderful AfroGerman singer songwriter. I think she would prefer me to describe her as a Nigerian artist residing in Germany, though. But this is how I perceived her and how I interpreted her music when I first heard her fantastic album a few months ago.

When I first discovered her through a friend I was surprised about her total commitment to the African cause in her music. As a child of a German mother and a Nigerian father I had interpreted her to be like most AfroGermans, i.e. having a German upbringing.

Not Nneka. She was born and raised in Nigeria. And not just that, she grew up in Warri, in the Delta region of Nigeria. A place in Nigeria where the terrible consequences of the oil industry for the local population is undeniable. She has seen all this with her own eyes as a child and teenager and now expresses it through her art.


Nneka came to Germany as a 19 year old and settled in the city of Hamburg. Although she stated in an Arte interview that she does speak German, she prefers to do her interviews in English. A language she feels more comfortable with.

Last year Nneka released a n album on which you will find a list of wonderful tracks ranging from genres like hip hop, reggae, soul, afrobeat and more. Her great voice brings you deep lyrics about globalization, love, Africa, poverty, identity, … it all feels very much authentic.

This summer she could be seen on many festivals throughout Europe. I saw her live at the Nice jazz Festival in the south of France. She was the first act of that day. Just her, a drummer, a bas, a guitar and a synth.

She brought us a perfect and heavily emotional set with not only songs from her album but also new tracks. She caught the audience right through their soul with music most of them never had heard before. The intensity and honesty she brought in her songs was so beautiful it made me think of the video’s I had seen from Bob Marley concerts; Nneka is very real and makes music that literally comes from the heart and the soul.

I advice everyone who loves good soul music to check out what she does. Several videos and interviews can be seen on YouTube. And here your can read an article from the Daily Telegraph in 2006.

Nneka - Heartbeat
Geüpload door FourMusic. - Muziek video's, interviews met artiesten, concerten en meer.

Video Premiere of Noah Sow's Rock Band NOISEAUX

Video Premiere. The German rock band NOISEAUX of singer Noah Sow has realesed the video Cessation.
Check out the video and the website www.noiseaux.com

Cessation

German far-right threatens Afro-German politician

Zeca Schall is a black immigrant politician in Chancellor Angela Merkel's party (CDU). He is running a election campaign for the state elections due in September. Lately he has been harassed with racism and been told to leave the country. The NPD (National Democratic Party) described him as CDU’s ‘token nigger’.

Despite suffering hostility and racial abuse from far-right opponents he decided to keep on going. He has expressed some fear but he sees the far-right campaign against him as just electioneering.

Zeca Schall, immigrated from Angola in 1988, and has been living for more than 20 years in Thüringen/Thuringia, and former part of East-Germany. He is featured on campaign posters for Merkel's Christian Democratic Union.


The far-right National Democratic Party (NPD) has damaged posters with racist statements and branded a big poster stating 'Have a good trip home Zeca Schall'.
In the meantime Schall is receiving police protection in his hometown of Hildburghausen. Members of far-right movements tried to approach his house but were turned away by the police. The Christian Democrats say they want an investigation to stop extremists for inciting hatred.

Yesterday the public prosecutor announced having launched an investigation into NPD’s actions, on suspicion of racial hatred, defamation and attempted coercion.
Schall is responsible for issues of integration -- that is, issues involving immigration and multi-culturalism -- for the CDU in Thuringia.

In an interview with SPIEGEL ONLINE, Schall spoke of his shock at the incident and described it as an attack on German democracy.

For those of you who understand German, check the little video on youtube.

Also check the Black Nord Rhein-Wesfalen website

Racist poster of German Green party

"The only reason to vote black", the poster states. In German: "Der Einzige Grund Schwartz zu wahlen." The image of two white hands on the buttocks of a black woman complete the statement. Is this the poster of some right wing German organisation? Is it an awareness campaign , or is it a joke?

It is a local political campaign pamphlet of the Green Party in Germany. Because black is the colour of the German Conservative party, the poster is used - according to the party – to break the absolute majority of the Conservative party CDU in the region. So it just means, don't vote conservative?

But why use the image of black woman in this way? Black German organisations call the poster racist and sexist, but the German party sees no harm in it. They even see it as provocative. In a press release they state: "The Green Party in particular have politics which stand out for their commitment to tolerance, *Weltoffenheit *and equality." Weltoffenheit is a German concept that is meant to symbolise inclusiveness, multiculturalism and cosmopolitanism. And, "Indeed, this poster could be seen to be "anti-racist" since we have received exactly this feedback from people with a migration background." See the full translated press statement here.

On their blogs Afro-Germans express their grief about the poster. On the blog of the black media watch organisation ‘der braune mob’ most people see it as blatant racism. Others see the fact that party stated “people with a migration background” as a sign that the party makes a sharp distinction between ‘Germans’ and others.

Unfortunately the German Green party still doesn't see that that their multicultural awareness is in sharp contrast to the awareness to other Green parties. At least those who claim to embrace multiculturalism and cosmopolitanism. I don't think that similar parties in the Netherlands, France, the UK or in the US would see such a poster as an expression of diversity.

But it’s clear that the Green party in Germany knows how to connect to ‘its own people’ to achieve its goals. I’ am afraid that my biased Dutch opinion about Germany may even be true.

But what does "the only reason to vote black" really mean. In my view the Green Party probably meant to say, that conservative voters are only interested in foreigners if it has to do with sex. The word "black" refers to the colour of German Conservative party, and the image of a black woman might refer to foreigners. But the offical explanation is, that the poster is meant to highlight the Greens' support for same-sex partnerships. But why use a black woman?

The Greens actually think the poster can be seen as anti-racist. But the reality is that they without any shame exploit racial stereotypes of black women for political goals. I don’t think the party would even consider of using racial stereotypes of Jewish people. But the image of naked black woman is in their world view something they can use without serious consequences.

Also read: German Green Party Defends 'Racist' Campaign Poster

(Special thanks to the media watch organisation Der Braune Mob for supplying the translated press release)

Black travel experiences in Europe

Photo and copyright: Lola Akinmade
How do black people experience travelling in Europe? Do they feel stared at, feel welcome, or is it a bit of both. And in which Western European countries do they feel most comfortable?

To find out I sampled the experiences (2008 and 2009) from Rick Steves’s Minority Travelers Forum. Most experiences are from African-Americans who visited Europe.

I could have asked photographer and travel writer Lola Akinmade about her travel experience, but on her blog are all the answers. In pictures and in stories. See Lola's blog Geotraveler's Niche. So I stayed on Steves's forum.

To get a big picture of all the experiences I placed the reactions in the categories negative, neutral and positive. Negative means when someone felt being treated negatively. Neutral means, no problems. Positive speaks for itself.


Click on the image to enlarge

1. In England or the UK – Most travellers had a great time. No stares, hardly any discrimination. With 2 negative and 9 positive reactions the absolute winner.

2. Germany – Second best with 1 negative reaction, 1 neutral and 3 positive reactions.

3. The Netherlands – One traveller felt very race conscious in the Netherlands. With 2 negative reactions, 1 neutral and 3 positive reactions third place.

4. France - Very mixed responses. Most black travellers liked it, but the French language barrier remained. Most Americans had neutral feelings about France, but over all they weren’t negative. With 2 negative reactions, 7 neutral and 4 positive reactions fourth place.

5. Italy – Here things started to get dramatically negative. Some loved Italy, others were less positive. Some reported being stared at. To put it in perspective, 4negative reactions, 2 neutral and 3 positive. Fifth place

6. Spain – This country is considered the worst Western European travel destination by most African-Americans on the forum. Most travellers see Spain as a very racist country. However one traveller was aware of racial climate in Spain, but still went. He had a great time in Spain. With 6 negative reactions, 2 neutral and 3 positive reactions it’s a country that leaves a lot of black travellers with some bad memories, but with good ones as well.

Countries as Belgium, Zweden, Austria, Creece and Ireland I didn't include because there were just one or two reactions.

Of course you can’t get a good impression if you have nine responses or less of each country. And it also depends where travellers had their experiences: big city or country side.

Minority
Lola Akinmade is using her blackness to experience traveling to the max. In an interview she explained why she loves traveling as a minority. "Being able to seamlessly move because people automatically assume I’m a local impoverished immigrant allows me to observe and immerse without sticking out like a sore thumb in some places. I get to experience the true attitudes of locals towards others very different from them – both great and bad.

I have experienced everything from utmost rejection to gawks of fascination that a lot of bright-eyed backpackers could never endure. It is at the low times I question the purpose of travel and then Mark Twain’s quote always comes to mind….“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness."…… Mark Twain."
Read the whole interview here

Why do black urban children in Amsterdam Bijlmer play classical music?

On June 11th black urban kids from the Amsterdam district Bijlmer in The Netherlands performed in the Amsterdam Concert Hall. In a orchestra they played on violins, tuba’s and bassoons. The idea is called the ‘Leerorkest’ (learning orchestra) and it’s a huge success.

Five years ago when the director of the local music school, Brazilian Marco de Sousa, started searching for a violin instructor he was asked: Why do you need a violin teacher in the Bijlmer? He replied, children's enthusiasm for something that they normally would never touch. Not because children are from Africa it means that they are more connected to a djembe then to a bassoon. Sousa:” Children have a different view. They choose for a bassoon because it’s funny and for a tuba because it’s big.”

In the Amsterdam Bijlmer children of three primary schools are getting music lessons on violins, tuba’s and bassoons. De Souza, saw that black children were not coming to the music school, so he decided to take the music school to them.



De Souza: "The number of children that attends the music school is very small. In Amsterdam only 4.5 percent of children attends a music school, in neighbourhoods such as the Bijlmer it’s about 2.7 percent. "De Souza know why:" Music costs money, books should be purchased, and a child must be brought and be picked up. " Many parents don’t want to make that effort.

Five years ago De Souza began a pilot with forty students, now four hundred children in the Bijlmer play a classical music instrument. The lessons are given in primary schools: "Everyone in the class chooses an instrument. Then the children get compulsory music lessons from a professional musician, one hour every week. Four years in school group five to eight." In the Netherlands it’s in the age from 8 to 12years old.


Child and instrument are carefully linked together. "We start with a visit of a rehearsal of Dutch Philharmonic Orchestra," says De Souza. This is followed by a workshop where children can speed date with a few instruments. After four months, the final choice is made.



UK

In 2002 cellist Julian webber wrote in the Telegraph in the an article entitled 'Who says classical music is for whites only' that there will be no improvement in musical education until the myth that classical music is white, middle-class and elitist has been debunked.

Webber: “What chance does a young British black child have of coming to know classical music? In many urban primary schools, they would be lucky to find two sides of a triangle in a back cupboard.

It may seem an obvious question, but how can anyone like any kind of music if they never hear it? White people decided that they liked MOBO - music of black origin - (jazz, rock and roll, r'n'b) because they had easy access to it - and they particularly liked it when it was "legitimised" by one of their own colour. To interest black people in classical music, we need more young black role models like the organist and conductor Wayne Marshall. Our present system is not designed to produce them.”

Germany

The idea of music education in primary schools isn't new. In Germany it's called 'Jedem Kind ein Instrument' (An Instrument for Every Child).

Keeping it real?

You may ask why black children are learning classical music? We have are own music tradition. So why can’t they play Caribbean or African music or just rap. From a black socio political point of view you may even think it looks like an attempt to ‘civilize’ black children with Bach.

In an interview award winning Dutch Black Cellist Steven Bourne was asked why he played chello. “ My parents, who are from Surinam Caribbean origin, just wanted me get to get in touch with other cultures. They listen to Caribbean music, but they also liked classical music. “ Bourne is the 19 year old winner of the Avond van de Jonge musicus (Evening of the young musician) of 2008. His sister is also a talented piano player.

But the real answer came from the young musicians of the Leerorkest. “You just feel terrific when you play contrabass. Because this is biggest instrument of the orchestra. “ And, "I feel the music. And I realise that I can do that."

Classical music is not Hip Hop or pop, but for black kids it’s a way to look beyond of what is perceived to be black. And maybe that's a part of growing up in Europe.

Read the article Daten met een tuba (Dutch)

See Steven en Daniëlle Bourne play sonate for cello and piano of Debussy, lente, sostenuto e molto risoluto.

Singer Juliana de Aquino dies in Air France plain crash

The blog Afro Brazil America reported that the Brazilian musical singer Juliana de Aquino is one of victems of the flight 447 Air France disaster. Since 2003 she lived in Germany, where she had a succesfull music career

Born on the 2nd of march in Brasilia- Brasil. Juliana de Aquino started at the age of 4 her musical education. She studied piano at IMDF, musical singing with maestro Marconi Araujo and classical singing with Aeda Moreira and at Universidade de Brasília. She also took part at singing workshops with Richard Lissemore and acting workshops with Steve Markusfeld.

After playing many roles in Brasil, Juliana de Aquino had the opportunite to take part at the german production of " The Lion King" in Hamburg from 2003 till 2007.

In 2008, she played the role of Maria Magdalena in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Stadttheater Klagenfurt, Austria.

Now, Juliana de Aquino had been playing in Stuttgart, Germany, the musical Wicked.

Homepage of Juliana de Aquino

French black soldiers excluded in ‘whites only’ liberation of Paris

Remember the old world war II pictures of the liberation of Paris in 1944, and troops marching on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées Paris? There were no black soldiers there. They should have marched in Paris, but papers unearthed by the BBC reveal that British and American commanders ensured that the liberation of Paris on 25 August 1944 was seen as a "whites only" victory.

It’s the story Tirailleurs Senegalais (Senegalees Riflemen). The BBC's Document programme has seen evidence that black colonial soldiers - who made up around two-thirds of Free French forces - were deliberately removed from the unit that led the Allied advance into the French capital.

By the time France fell in June 1940, 17,000 of its black, mainly Tirailleurs Senegalais lay dead. Many of them were simply shot where they stood soon after surrendering to German troops who often regarded them as sub-human savages.

Their chance for revenge came in August 1944 as Allied troops prepared to retake Paris. But despite their overwhelming numbers, they were not to get it.

The leader of the Free French forces, Charles de Gaulle, made it clear that he wanted his Frenchmen to lead the liberation of Paris.

American General Frederick Morgan Allied High Command agreed, but only on one condition: De Gaulle's division must not contain any black soldiers.

Because the French couldn’t form an all white division, they filled the gaps with soldiers from parts of North Africa and the Middle East.

Leopold Sedar Senghor, who in 1960 became the first President of independent Senegal, had served in the Tirailleurs Senegalais and was a POW during WWII. He wrote the poem "Slam par Manu", which is cited in video below



The Tirailleurs Senegalais also occupied the German Rhineland after World war I. Their mixed German children, known as the Rhineland children, fell victim to the Nazi regime.

The story of the Tirailleurs Senegalais is a constant reminder that black history is everywhere.

Paris liberation made 'whites only'
The tirailleursafricains blog

Obama visits the Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany

President Obama says the Buchenwald concentration camp "is the ultimate rebuke" to those who deny the Holocaust.

Obama visited the Nazi camp where 56,000 people died. He toured the memorial with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and survivor and Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel. They laid roses at a memorial.

Obama said people today have a duty to confront those who deny such concentration camps existed.

Obama told reporters that his great-uncle helped liberate a nearby satellite camp, Ohrdruf, just days before other U.S. Army units overran Buchenwald. Obama says his great-uncle returned from war and was unable to speak of the horrible scene.

Obama says the victims and the perpetrators of the camp alike were humans and everyone must stand guard against a repeat.

On the Afro-German blog Black NRW you can find some interesting video's and links about that part of German history - Präsident Obama Rede in der Gedenkstätte Buchenwald am 5. Juni 2009

German street renamed after poetess May Ayim

A Berlin street is renamed after the internationally renowned Afro-German poetess, educationist and inhabitant of Kreuzberg, May Ayim (1960-1996). Ayim fought against ongoing racism in Germany and was active in the women’s movement, she continously highlighted Germany’s forgotten colonial past. “This renaming also challenges people to deal with the close connection between colonialism and racism”, says Luise Steinwachs of Tanzania Network (TNW). “The renaming of Gröbenufer into May-Ayim-Ufer will not make the topic of colonialism disappear from the map”, emphasizes Joshua Kwesi Aikins from the Black organisation ISD, “but rather it provides a change of perspective in remembrance.”

Read the full story on Der Schwarze blog: Berlin-Kreuzberg, re-naming of street in May-Ayim-Ufer

Black German media organisation Afrotak cyberNomads wins prize

AFROTAK cyberNomads were honoured with the Award Best Media by the German government foundation ‘Demokratie und Toleranz’ for cyberNomads activities starting in 2001 as the first Black German portal on black presence in Germany. The organisation Afrotak Cybernomads is founded by Adetoun and Michael Küppers-Adebisi from Berlin. The award ceremony was held on May 6th.

The online portal CyberNomads will be the first internet portal of black people in Germany to be officially awarded by a government agency.

Again Africa show in German zoo

On May 20th an Africa day is planned in the German Zoo Krefeld. It's the second after the controversial zoo event in 2005. On the zoo’s website an African is portrayed next to a rhinoceros. The byline states, “Africa is guest in the Krefeld zoo. Our rhinoceros Thabo will become one year old in May. For his birthday some attractions awaits visitors.”

In 2005 The African Village festival in the Augsburg zoo sparked a protest by Anti-discrimination groups across Germany and across the world. The festival was seen as blatant racism and appalling cultural insensitivity, because grass huts and "African" culture where nestled between the monkey cage and the Savannah exhibit. African culture was exhibited between animals. But in spite of the protest the festival wasn't cancelled.

Now four years later the Krefeld Zoo is planning a similar event for the birthday of an African Rhinoceros. On the program. Information about the Rhinoceros, an African drum class by a Ghanaian music school, and a presentation of projects for children in Uganda and South Africa. But also the Gorilla Rainforest direct Aid and friends of Krefeld "A garden for Gorilla's” will have a stand at the event.

The Augsburg zoo event in 2005 reminded many of Germanys past. Many where reminded of 19th century exhibits of Africans in Europe's zoos and circuses. The problem, as most critics pointed out, was not that Augsburg was hosting an African cultural festival. Rather, its location inside a zoo, they said, recalls Germany's and Europe's colonialist past - and the not uncommon practice in the 19th and early 20th centuries of exhibiting African natives in zoos or circuses. Furthermore, such a setting encourages visitors to see Africans as a display and emphasizes their "otherness."

It’s sad to see in that in 2009 some German and African-German organisations haven’t learned from protests in 2005. Even the international discussions sparked by the election of an African-American President in US were no reason for the organisations to look for other ways to promote African culture.

By also connecting projects for children in Africa to the birthday of an animal, it seems that change has not come to Germany.

For more blog information:

Menschen Zoo Krefeld - Wieder ein “Afrika Tag” in einem deutschen Zoo!!!

Black German youth theatre - Real life Deutschland

Afro-German teenagers describe their lives in everyday Germany. In the theatre play 'Real Life: Germany' it's most of all about the players who want to give their view on everyday situations which you can experience as member of a minority in Germany. 'Real Life: Germany' will shock and impress at the same time.

All stories that appear in the play are for the most part true. In each played scene there is a deeper meaning. It's a way of showing that people with same everyday problems are not alone.

In the video trailer a few interviews are shown where the teenagers describe some of their experiences. A short translation of the dialogs.

Boy 1: A group of people in the age of 16 to 18 came to me and said, what are you doing here negro, go home, go back where you came from negro.

Girl 1: I heard the N-word and so on. It went so far that my parents didn’t believe it actually happened.

Girl 2: I don't know how to defend myself anymore. I don't no what to say anymore.

Girl 3: I want to play in theatre, but I am not good in acting. But I love it.

Boy and girl: what is a 'negerkind' (negro child)?
director: You don't know the meaning of the term negro child, you really have no idea.

Boy. For two three years I didn't want to have anyting do with white people. All of them hurt me.

Scene with boy and girl:
Girl:How come you speak German? That's what find so interesting. Where do come from?
boy: Germany,
Girl: No your home country
Boy: Germany
Girl: No your real home country
Boy:Also Germany
Girl: where are your parents from?

Boy
At some point you have nothing to say anymore.

Girl: I am realy anxious what kind of play it will become. Because we don’t have ‘a play’ yet. We have ideas, but not a play.

The theatre play 'real life: Deutschland' has emerged from Empowerment-Theaterprojekt “YoungStar Theater - Schwarze Jugendliche im Mittelpunkt” (black youngsters on the center stage)

YoungStar Theater

Being black in Germany

Being black in Germany. If you always wanted to know what it’s like being a black German person living in Germany, then this is a video you must see. In the video writer and cross-cultural scholar Nguvi Kahiha explains the full spectrum of the black diaspora in Germany. He looks at the historical influx of blacks, which started over 400 years ago and shifts focus to the current Afro-German culture and past African-American presence in Germany, which includes W.E.B. Du Bois, Booker T. Washington and Colin Powell. Nguvi Kahiha has a black African father and a white German mother

Some quotes:

“You are German or you are not. And since your black your not German anyway.”

“Afro-German are German born blacks with one parent African-American or African decent and another parent German decent. And blacks who have both black parent but are born into the German culture.”

“Historically, Afro-German where socially and culturally disconnected from the German society.”

Watch: Being Black in Germany