Zoé Samudzi on Decolonial Contradictions in German Memory Politics
In a recent article for ARTMargins, researcher Zoé Samudzi highlighted the collapse of a collaborative exhibition with the Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden. The proposed show aimed to delve into the historical ties between East Germany and Namibia's SWAPO, particularly reflecting on Germany’s colonial violence against the Ovaherero and Nama people. Tensions arose as Samudzi criticized Germany’s insufficient acknowledgment of this historical atrocity, showcasing a divide between established narratives and grassroots efforts. Furthermore, her work provides a personal theoretical framework addressing anti-Black racial discipline, critiques surrounding Holocaust interpretations, and the broader ethical dilemmas of disengaging from essential discussions.
Key facts
- Paper published in ARTMargins, Volume 15, Issue 2, pp. 6-28.
- Author: Zoé Samudzi.
- Institution: Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden (Dresden State Art Collections).
- Exhibition topic: political relationship between East Germany and SWAPO.
- Conflict over Germany's recognition of colonial genocide.
- Genocide of Ovaherero and Nama peoples in South West Africa (Namibia).
- Paper explores anti-black racial disciplining and Holocaust exceptionalism.
- DOI: 10.1162/ARTM.a.373.
Entities
Artists
- Zoé Samudzi
Institutions
- Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden
- Dresden State Art Collections
- ARTMargins
- MIT Press
- South West Africa People’s Organization
- SWAPO
Locations
- Germany
- Namibia
- South West Africa
- Dresden