

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?
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:
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