Colonialism made in Göttingen- the past in the present

A documentary film will take a look at the former scientific colonial metropolis of Göttingen in a way that is critical of colonialism. The film was conceived together with the Senegalese filmmaker Ibrahima Ndiaye Sall ("Diaraf"), who traveled to Europe for the first time in the summer of 2022 at the invitation of ASA-FF e.V. and Göttingen Postkolonial.

Which colonial traces can still be found today? How do colonial racist ideas affect the culture of remembrance in the region? How do black people experience life in Göttingen and the surrounding area? What role did Göttingen play in the pan-European project of colonialism?

The film will retell the stories of the region of Göttingen around the sites from the colonial era, such as the South West Africa Monument, the Wissmann statue in Bad Lauterberg or the German Colonial School in Witzenhausen, and relate them to current challenges of the realities of Black people's lives. For this, scholars*, anti-racism trainers* and civil society actors*, such as from Göttingen Postcolonial, will speak and share their perspectives on the colonial past and colonial continuities.

It will be used in history classes in Göttingen schools and will be offered with a teaching guide for debriefing the film.
The concept of the film and the teaching guide will be developed together with experts in the pedagogical and critical field of racism.

We need funding for airfare, room and board, research and conception, five days of filming (including equipment, salaries and food) and post-production.