Particularly in light of the current discussions about pharmacy names or carnival societies, but also in connection with the discussion about the culture of remembrance in Bayreuth, the protagonists hit a nerve. The workshop is inscribed in various fields of research: on the one hand, in the multifaceted history of today's Upper Franconia region and its interconnections with other cultural spaces; on the other hand, in the current research discourse, in which there has been intensive discussion in recent years about transcultural and post-migrant communities as well as their influences and effects on the culture of remembrance in Germany with regard to the colonial past.

We spoke to the organizers of the workshop.

Dr. Marcus Mühlnikel, Academic Council at the Institute for Franconian Regional History, University of Bayreuth

Dr. Ibrahima Sene, Member at the Chair of African History, University of Bayreuth

What was the reason for this conference? How did you come up with the idea?

Ibrahima Sene: "One current reason was the intensified debate on the post-colonial culture of remembrance in Germany with the revelation of post-colonial and racist thought and social structures in the present. Germany's colonial past and the historically asymmetrical relations between the Global North and South are now also being discussed in communities such as Bayreuth - and rightly so."

What role do current debates such as the naming of the Mohren pharmacy play?

Marcus Mühlnikel: "The discussions sometimes narrow down to the question of whether institutions should change their names (see Mohren Pharmacy) or whether architectural monuments should remain as they are because of supposedly colonialist representations (see Margrave Fountain). This also raises the question of whether certain groups in our society feel that their dignity has been violated by certain traditions. The workshop aims to address these questions and set a new tone for these discussions. With our conference, we also aim to illustrate the complexity of (colonial) history, also with regard to different perceptions of Africa. And last but not least, we would like to point out concrete relationships between the Upper Franconian region and African regions."

Under what aspects was the program curated?

Ibrahima Sene: "The academic disciplines of African history and regional history have very different approaches to and questions about the topic. We are experts in subject areas that intersect here and can be related to each other very fruitfully. This in turn opens the door to new questions. The lectures reflect our approach. For example, the speakers come from different research disciplines, but they all come together in the general theme of "Africa in everyday life in Bayreuth". In addition, actors from politics, business and the church will report on current points of contact."

Who is the event aimed at?

Marcus Mühlnikel: "The event deals with a public issue. It is therefore aimed at the wider Bayreuth community, members of the University of Bayreuth and interested members of the public. The venue is the Iwalewa House, in the heart of the city of Bayreuth. All interested parties are cordially invited."

How long does Bayreuth's connection to Africa go back?

Marcus Mühlnikel: "We have clear evidence of the presence of people from Africa during the Baroque period. For example, in addition to the "Cammertürken", there were also "Cammermohren" in the princely court of Margrave Friedrich (1711-1763), as evidenced by these names in the court calendars, which sound very strange to us today. One lecture will also deal explicitly with this early phase." 

How can you describe this connection in three sentences?

Ibrahima Sene: "It is assumed that these people were at the princely court because they lent an "exotic" flair to courtly society. They probably also served as status symbols and exotic objects of prestige for the princes. This implies not only an exoticization, but also a racialization of these people."

To what extent has the concept of Africa changed in Bayreuth, or should it change in your eyes?

Marcus Mühlnikel: "Another aim of the conference is to further differentiate the concept of Africa. For example, people often generalize when talking about "Africa". However, we should not forget that the African continent is many times larger than Europe and consists of over 50 sovereign states, each with its own history and cultural background. Fortunately, many events and discussions are now taking place in Bayreuth on this topic, involving different perspectives (city administration, university, associations, etc.)."

About the conference: Africa in everyday life in Bayreuth: history and culture of remembrance

The aim of the workshop is to examine the African presence in the Upper Franconia region from a historical, social and cultural anthropological perspective and to highlight the resulting effects on the region's current social structures. This can lead to a reassessment of the region's history as well as to an increased awareness of the intercultural spaces of exchange and encounter by making previously neglected aspects and voices visible and audible. It will also touch on the question of how African art and artifacts were collected, exhibited and interpreted in the region from a historical perspective.

Place and date: June 27 - 28, 2024 in Iwalewa House

Organization: Dr. Ibrahima Sene (Member at the Chair of African History, University of Bayreuth), Dr. Marcus Mühlnikel (Academic Council at the Institute for Franconian Regional History, University of Bayreuth)

Project partners: Prof. Dr. Joël Glasman, Chair of African History, University of Bayreuth, Florian André Unterburger, B.A. (Förderverein Industriemuseum Bayreuth e.V.)

Programme

Thursday, June 27
10:00 a.m.: Welcome and introduction (Dr. Ibrahima Sene & Dr. Marcus Mühlnikel)

10:15 a.m.: Welcome address (Prof. Dr. Nina Nestler, Vice President for Internationalization, Equal Opportunities and Diversity, University of Bayreuth)

10:30 a.m.: Panel I: Concepts, contexts and current debates

Moderation: Prof. Dr. Joël Glasman Chair of African History, University of Bayreuth
Prof. Dr. Astrid Swenson, Chair of European Historical Cultures, University of Bayreuth: European Remembrance Politics: New Approaches and Challenges
Ibrahima Sene: The view to Africa: Evolution of literary and press-related discourses on German colonialism
Prof. Dr. Stefan Ouma, Chair of Economic Geography, University of Bayreuth: Is it all just "tradition"? For an expanded culture of remembrance in Bayreuth

12:00 p.m.: Lunch

14:00: Panel II: Early contacts and 'colonialism at home'
Moderation: Prof. Dr. em. Hans-Jürgen Lüsebrink, Romance Cultural Studies and Intercultural Communication, Saarland University
District heritage keeper Prof. Dr. Günter Dippold: Encounters with Africa in the early modern period: a regional perspective
Prof. Dr. Martin Ott, Head of the Franconian Regional History Institute: The "image of Africa" in the Franconian press in the 19th century
Dr. Marcus Mühlnikel: Imperialism and colonialism - Africa in Bayreuth?

15:30-16:00: Coffee break

16:00: Guided tour of the Iwalewa House (exhibitions) Nicole Marina Klug, University of Bayreuth / Iwalewa House

17:00: Prof. Dr. em. Hans-Jürgen Lüsebrink (Key-Note Speaker): From the global to the local. Concepts, challenges and intercultural dimensions of interdisciplinary African studies (from the perspective of literary and cultural studies)

Friday, June 28

09:00-10:30: Panel III: Africa in Bayreuth's public space
Moderation: PD Dr. Richard Hölzl, Museum Fünf Kontinente, Munich
Michael Herrmann, Verbundzentrale GBV (VZG): The presence of African soldiers in Bayreuth during the First World War
Ibukun Koussemou, Integration Officer of the City of Bayreuth: (Current) integration strategies and challenges in Bayreuth
Kibouni Koné, Model African Union Bayreuth e.V. (MAU) / University of Bayreuth: Academic engagement and diasporic networks: The Model African Union

10:30-11:00 a.m.: Coffee break

11:00-12:30: Panel IV: Art, activism and cultural memory engagement
Moderation: Prof. Dr. Astrid Swenson
PD Dr. Richard Hölzl: Regional Circulation. Colonial 'collections' and colonial activism in Bavaria around 1900
Dr. Katharina Fink, Künstlerhaus Schloss Balmoral, Bad Ems/Frankfurt am Main: It's complicated. Art & Coloniality in Bayreuth
Vanessa Omoigui, SD Nürnberg e.V. - Initiative Schwarze Menschen in Deutschland: Local initiatives/associations in the culture of remembrance: Political concerns and social participation

13:00: Lunch

14:30-15:30: Panel V: Africa in Bayreuth - current developments and perspectives
Moderation: Dr. Ibrahima Sene & Dr. Marcus Mühlnikel
Bayreuth's Lord Mayor Thomas Ebersberger: Africa and the City of Bayreuth - Ideas and Perspectives
Wolfram Brehm, Managing Director of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Upper Franconia Bayreuth (IHK): Africa and the Upper Franconian economy
Rev. Martin Gundermann, Deanery Bayreuth/Bad Berneck / Dr. Fritz Seiler, tropical medicine specialist, Bayreuth: Emergency medical care in Tanzania and the Deanery Bayreuth

15:45- approx. 17:00: Panel VI: City tour and discussion
Topic: "Bayreuth: Traces of German colonial history"
Guided tour: Darja Wolfmeier, History of Africa, University of Bayreuth & Florian André Unterburger, Förderverein Industriemuseum Bayreuth/IMB e.V.

17:30-18:00: Final discussion & farewell (Dr. Ibrahima Sene & Dr. Marcus Mühlnikel)

Dr. Marcus MühlnikelAcademic Council at the Institute for Franconian Regional History

Marktplatz 1 

D- 95349 Thurnau
Phone: +49 (0) 9228 / 99605-15
E-mail: marcus.muehlnikel@uni-bayreuth.de & marcus.muehlnikel@uni-bamberg.de

Anja-Maria Meister

Anja-Maria MeisterPR Spokesperson of the University of Bayreuth

Universitätsstraße 30
D - 95447 Bayreuth
Phone: +49 (0) 921 / 55 - 5300
Mail: anja.meister@uni-bayreuth.de

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