Berlin Exhibition Highlights Overlooked African Soldiers in French World Wars

The exhibition 'Tirailleurs' at Berlin's Haus der Kulturen der Welt examines the historical experiences of African soldiers who fought for France during both World Wars. Curated by Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, the presentation addresses the marginalization of these combatants in European historical memory. Artist Dior Thiam contributes 'Tata' (2026), a clay pedestal featuring a portrait of a Black soldier, inspired by her grandfather who served as a Senegalese tirailleur. Daniel Lind-Ramos presents 'Re-inventario de la desmemoria' (2026), a sculptural assemblage incorporating objects like suitcases and headscarves to represent soldiers from Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana whose records remain scarce. Historical context includes Félix Vallotton's 1917 painting 'Senegalese Soldiers in the Camp of Mailly,' part of a series created while the Swiss-French artist documented trench warfare. Contemporary works include Nadia Kaabi-Linke's photo series 'Into the Fading Lines,' which uses UV exposure to highlight marginalized figures in historical military images, and Mario Pfeifer's film 'Wutame / Caché,' exploring the recruitment of Cameroonian men for the Russian army in the Ukraine conflict, drawing parallels to colonial-era exploitation. The exhibition features contributions from artists representing formerly colonized African nations, including Mali, Guinea, Benin, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Niger, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, and the Central African Republic. Many soldiers were forcibly conscripted, received minimal training, and served on European front lines, yet remain largely absent from mainstream war commemorations. The show aims to provide visibility without glorifying violence, emphasizing the soldiers' humanity beyond combat roles.