Afterlives of Slavery

Symposium | 6 Oct 2017 | Tropenmuseum

Building on the discussions held during the A Shared History program, Tropenmuseum’s exhibition Afterlives of Slavery explores how the inequality that was built up in hundreds of years of race relations lives on in Dutch society. Meanwhile, visitors are encouraged to discuss questions such as: what is our shaped history of slavery? How can we shape our common future?

Afterlives of Slavery

The opening symposium for Afterlives of Slavery brought together artists, scholars, and communities of interest for an afternoon of reflection on the exhibition’s themes. During talks, interviews and performances, attendants were invited to reflect on the heritage of colonialism and slavery and receive a behind the scenes look at the exhibition’s formation.

The symposium’s program consisted of:

an interview of a panel consisting of prof. dr. Carolien Rieffe (Leiden University), Khadija al Mourabit (University of Amsterdam), Raul Balai, Fazle Shairmahomed, and Helen Sumter, on their professional experiences with slavery’s heritage
talks by Martin Berger, Richard Kofi and Robin Lelijfeld on composing the exhibition
musical performances by Zwart Licht and Izaline Calister,
word and dance by Talentlab Poetry & Dance (Bijlmer Parktheater): Roziena Salihu, Taira Miguel, Jaleesa Grot and Perry Gits. Director: Babs Gons
a spoken word performance by Katoen & Tabak collective: Babs Gons, Juan-Carlos Goilo and Dorothy Blokland

Moderator: dr. Aspha Bijnaar

The opening symposium for Afterlives of Slavery was organized by the Research Center for Material Culture (RCMC) at the National Museum of World Cultures, The Netherlands.

Photo credit: Kirsten van Santen

Open gallery