AFRICA OUGHT TO WRITE HER OWN HISTORY

By Our Reporter, Berlin

African countries have been urged to write their own histories that depict a true picture of what happened during colonialism.

The call to that effect was made yesterday 28 Nov 2024 by the Minister of State for Media and Culture of Germany, Hon Claudia Roth during the launching of a joint exhibition between Tanzania and Germany experts on "Histories of Tanzania" mounted at Humboldt Forum in Berlin

"There are a lot of stories that colonialism wrote and continue to write today that are not good. It diminishes the African history and add pains to the open wounds". she said adding there were so many heroes who were tortured by colonizers and their story still suppressed.

"If you can't tell your story you don't exist because the story and narration convey a sense of community and if they can't the cultural  identity is spilled" she insisted.

" Thank you for making stories tangible and introducing us to Tanzania stories. We would love to have more exhibitions like these even if it tells a sad story" she said.

The Minister of Natural Resource and Tourism, Hon. Ambassador Dr Pindi Chana was thankful for the joint exhibition between Tanzania and Germany since it makes explicit the untold stories of Tanzania before and during the colonialism.

She said the joint exhibition is a result of a good relationship that President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan maintains with Germany through President Hon Frank-Walter Steinmeir.

"This exhibition should be a springboard to encourage tourists to come to Tanzania and witness the beauty of various attractions of the Country" She said over teleconference.

The Minister also said that Tanzania is ready to start negotiations for restitution and repatriation of cultural properties and human remains that were taken under the colonial context.

She said that the Negotiation Committee has already been appointed and communications are in progress with Germany part through the diplomatics channels.

The National Museum of Tanzania Director General, Dr Noel Lwoga said his organisation was engaged not only in provenance research but also in conceptialization and designing and setting up the exhibition and involving the local communities.

"In ensuring the success of this exhibition, we made sure that the stories of the exhibition accurately reflect Tanzanian communities and history from Tanzanian viewpoint" he said.

The Humboldt Forum General Director, Prof. Hartmut Dorgerloh said the aim of the exhibition is to open a forum where different cultures can be celebrated. 

"The exhibition does not tell a single story rather create a room for learning story from both sides"he said.

He said the exhibition will persist as a driving force for transformation in the narration of colonial tales and current partnership between Germany and Tanzania.

The launching of the exhibition was also attended by the Tanzania Ambassador to Germany, Hon. Hassan Iddi Mwamweta and some of the Chiefs and community members from Tanzania.