1884/85 – 1994: 110 Years of Anticolonial Resistance | The Struggle: South Africans in Exile in Berlin
2024 marks the anniversary of two major events: the end of apartheid in South Africa 30 years ago, and the Berlin Conference 140 years ago. In 1884-1885, delegates from 14 countries gathered in Berlin to negotiate their claims to the African continent, laying the groundwork for the division of Africa into colonies. The conference participants: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, the Ottoman empire, Austria-Hungary, Portugal, Russia, Sweden-Norway, Spain and the USA.
Ninety years later, in 1994, apartheid in South Africa – a decades-long racist system of subjugation and segregation – came to an end.
Location
Museum Ephraim-Palais
Poststraße 16
10178 Berlin
Opening Hours
Tue – Sun | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (also on public holidays))
Mon closed
Special Closing Hours
see Info & Service
Admission
7 euros (single ticket) | 15 euros (combi-ticket*) | free admission (under 18 years or with reduction)
*Valid on two consecutive days for the Museum Ephraim-Palais, the Museum Nikolaikirche and the Museum Knoblauchhaus.
Ever since Europeans’ first attempts at colonialization in the 15th century, Africans have engaged in active and passive resistance. The last anticolonial liberation movement, against apartheid in South Africa from 1948 to 1994, entered history as “the struggle”.
This special exhibition “1884/85 – 1994: 110 Years of Anticolonial Resistance | The Struggle: South Africans in Exile in Berlin” at the Museum Ephraim-Palais highlights Africa’s last anticolonial liberation movement.
The exhibition was developed by students at the HTW Berlin under the curatorial direction of Philippa Ebéné, and produced in collaboration with the Stadtmuseum Berlin.
Starting 17 October 2024 | BerlinZEIT Open Spaces
Anticolonial resistance took many forms. In addition to political work, it included everything from armed battles to art as a means of protest. The eight Open Spaces in the BerlinZEIT permanent exhibition at the Museum Ephraim-Palais examine these forms of resistance, thereby also broadening perspectives on the history of Berlin.
One part focuses on the music of the struggle as a form of resistance. A powerful means of protest that fuelled opposition to the racist regime, music played a key role in the anti-apartheid movement.
Historical examples of anticolonial resistance shown in the Open Spaces:
- Anticolonial resistance in southern Africa began with the Battle of Salt River in 1510 when the Khoi Khoin people repelled Portuguese raiders at the Cape of Good Hope.
- Shaka Zulu (1787-1828), a formidable leader, used military innovations to shape the Zulu empire in the 19th century.
- Hendrik Witbooi (1830-1905) and Samuel Maharero (1856-1923) led Nama and Herero resistance to German colonial rule in Namibia.
- Enoch Mankayi Sontonga (1873-1905) wrote the hymn “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” in 1897, which became a symbol of African resistance.
- Charlotte Maxeke (1871-1939), an early activist, founded the Bantu Women’s League and promoted women’s rights and education. She sang in the African Jubilee Choir, which raised the profile of African culture worldwide.
- Abdullah Ibrahim (b. 1934) and Miriam Makeba (1932-2008) used their music to oppose apartheid.
- Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) co-founded the ANC Youth League and became the face of the anti-apartheid movement.
- The GDR maintained close ties with the African National Conference (ANC), whereas the FRG supported the apartheid regime. In both East and West Germany, civil society was actively involved in the anti-apartheid movement.
Visitors can explore all these stories of resistance on the open spaces of the BerlinZEIT permanent exhibition at the Museum Ephraim-Palais starting 17 October 2024. The stories pave the way for the special exhibition scheduled to open on 26 February 2025 – while demonstrating yet again that resistance will never die.
Starting 26 February 2025 | Museum Ephraim-Palais, 3rd floor above ground
The two exhibition rooms on the third floor above ground of the Museum Ephraim-Palais focus on the period from 1884/85 to 1994 and on seven individuals who fled the South African apartheid regime, some of whom still live in Berlin today:
- Arnold Isaacs
- Aletta Makena-Frenken
- Asaph Makote Mohlala
- Luyanda Mpahlwa
- Jeannette Selby
- Eric Singh
- Sack Sturman (aka Bert Seraje)
Programme
21 September 2024 | “Music of the Struggle” | Lecture/Performance
Time: 8 p.m.
Place: Sinema Transtopia | Lindower Str. 20/22/Haus C, 13347 Berlin
This Lecture/Performance on the “Music of the Struggle” with former Robben Island inmate Luyanda Mpahlwa is the kick-off event for the exhibition. Music played a key role in the fight against apartheid. Luyanda’s lecture/performance provides an overview of protest music and art, of leading South African and international musicians and their resistance songs and liberation hymns, and the crucial role they played in the international anti-apartheid movement.
Luyanda Mpahlwa, born in 1958, is a renowned architect. After five years in prison on Robben Island, he fled South Africa in 1986 for Berlin. An activist and DJ at the time, he frequently worked at anti-apartheid and other cultural events, returning to South Africa after its first free elections.
Film Days
More information to follow.
26 February 2025 | Opening of the Special Exhibition
More information to follow.
In collaboration with
Info & Service
Opening Hours
Tue – Sun | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (also on public holidays)
Mon closed
Directions
Poststraße 16
10178 Berlin
Tickets
Admission
Combi-Ticket
15 euros
Valid for our three museums in the Nikolaiviertel (Museum Nikolaikirche, Museum Ephraim-Palais, Museum Knoblauchhaus) on two consecutive days (please note opening hours)
Single Ticket
7 euros
Day ticket for the Museum Ephraim-Palais
Free admission
With proof of reduction
For children & young people under 18, students, trainees, FSJ/FÖJ/BFD volunteers, Berlin-Ticket-S holders, severely disabled persons (with mark B) & accompanying person, refugees (with valid work or residence permit /eAT and Ukrainian passport or valid residence permit from Ukraine), recipients of residence permit /eAT and Ukrainian passport or valid residence permit from Ukraine), recipients of transfer benefits (citizen’s allowance, ALG I), holders of the Berlin-Brandenburg volunteer card, holders of the Super Holiday Pass / Berlin Family Pass, ICOM members, members of the German Museums Association, members of the Verein der Freunde und Förderer des Stadtmuseums Berlin e. V., KulturPass holders, media representatives with a valid press card
Museum Sunday
Free admission for everyone on the first Sunday of every month!
Contact
Infoline
+49 30 240 02 – 162
Mo – Fri | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Write E-Mail
Accessibility
The Ephraim-Palais is accessible without steps. All exhibition areas are accessible via an elevator. There are barrier-free toilets in the building.