Germany confronts its colonial past through Mnyaka Sururu Mboro's efforts

In Germany, Mnyaka Sururu Mboro has been compelled by a promise made to his grandmother almost 50 years ago when he emigrated from Tanzania. His promise was to bring back the head of a local chieftain, who was killed in 1900 by German colonists in response to their oppressive rule in Africa. The region in question, which was part of German East Africa from 1885 to 1919, was one of Germany's many colonies during this period. The chieftain's head is believed to have been taken to Germany by colonial authorities, but its recovery has yet to be confirmed or achieved. After his relocation to Heidelberg in 1978, Mboro learned about the African Quarter in Berlin, where several street names were associated with Germany's colonial history. His attention was drawn to Petersallee, a street named after Carl Peters, Germany's first imperial commissioner for German East Africa, notorious for his brutal governance. This discovery deeply affected him, leading him to co-found Berlin Postkolonial. This was a grassroots initiative aimed at reevaluating Germany's colonial past and advocating for the removal of lingering colonial symbols and racism that exist today. Mboro was actively involved in a memorial event that resulted in the renaming of Petersallee, reflecting a growing movement to confront historical injustices. Germany's colonial policy has been characterized by systemic injustices and acts of violence. This has prompted officials, including Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, to acknowledge the inhuman and racist nature of these policies while emphasizing the importance of learning from history to take responsibility in the present. Mboro continues to push for justice related to the return of important cultural artifacts and human remains, which were wrongfully obtained during the colonial period. Hermann Parzinger, president of a foundation that owns thousands of these remains, has declared that everything must be returned to their rightful communities and nations. As part of broader discussions about historical accountability and the education system's approach to colonialism, there are ongoing efforts in Germany to create a more comprehensive dialogue about these topics. Justice Mvemba, who started Decolonial Tours in Berlin, highlights that while some educators may choose to teach about colonialism, it often remains a romanticized narrative lacking critical depth. These initiatives signify a shift toward acknowledging and revising how colonial history is taught in schools, urging a more truthful engagement with the past.