Konradin (@konradinkunze) · DIRTY

Konradin

@konradinkunze

Theater Performance Exhibitions Artistic Provenance Research Ancestral Remains Decolonisation / Flinn Works / Marejesho Research and Information Centre Born at 333 ppm CO2 konradinkunze.de / flinn.works

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Konradin@konradinkunze· Jul 24

Guter GEO Artikel von @issioehrich.bsky.social über den Kampf von Nachfahren zur Rückführung von Mangi Molelias Kopf von Berlin an den Kilimanjaro. Ich begleite die Familie, seit wir im Rahmen des Marejesho Projekts die Gebeine und kulturelle Besitztümer von Mangi Molelia identifizieren konnten.

Magazin GEO aufgeschlagen: links ein Foto von Sirili Molelia, rechts ein historisches Foto von Mangi Molelia mit Familie und Palast.

Foto von Sirili im Linden Museum, während sein Sohn Tony ihm die Decke von Mangi Molelia umlegt.

Foto des Hanging Tree in Old Moshi.

Foto von Sirili und Tony Molelia und Konradin Kunze vor einer Namenstafel im Linden Museum

Konradin@konradinkunze· Jul 14

Shortly after the opening, our Marejesho Research and Information Centre in Moshi, Tanzania hosted the first community meeting and workshop to discuss community-centred #provenance research and questions of #restitution and #repatriation.

A round of workshop attendees sitting on chairs in the shade of trees.

A group of workshop attendees discussing in the Marejesho exhibition

The Marejesho team introducing themselves at the meeting. Around 100 participants are seated in a parliamentary auditorium. A projection with a presentation slide on the wall behind the team.

Konradin@konradinkunze· Jul 12

Konradin@konradinkunze· Jul 11

It was also the opening of the updated Marejesho exhibition. The provenance research project evolved from an earlier mobile version of this exhibition.

Colourful lightboxes showing images of cultural belongings in the exhibition

A wall with pictures and texts connected with threads. Title written on the wall: Missing ancestors.

Konradin@konradinkunze· Jul 11

Today we officially opened the Marejesho Research and Information Centre in Moshi, Tanzania. In this 2 year community centred project we aim at reconnecting Ancestors and belongings in German institutions to Kilimanjaro and Arusha. mric.hypotheses.org

Auditorium in the Marejesho Research and Information Centre with many attendees sitting at a presentation.

The 1950s building in Moshi decorated for the opening

Konradin@konradinkunze· Jul 6

Setting up the #Marejesho exhibition at Marejesho Research and Information Centre in Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Opening July 11…

Art work by Amanj Abeid: drawings on a canvas inspired by a blanket of the Mangi of Kibosho. Below the artwork is a lightbox with a photo of the original blanket.

Two lightboxes with cultural belongings in front of three banners with questions in Swahili and English.

Konradin@konradinkunze· Jun 18

Really enjoying all the great conversations about memorial sites and future museums at #theMuseumsLab. Today @mfnberlin.bsky.social. But we should not forget in all these fruitfull conversations: the dinosaur has to return to Tanzania! #restitution

TheMuseumsLab fellows and organisers gathering in the main hall of the museum of natural history in Berlin under the giant dinosaur fossils from Tendaguru, Tanzania.

Konradin@konradinkunze· Jun 6

Setting up the MAREJESHO exhibition at the Marejesho Research and Information Centre (MRIC) in Moshi, Tanzania

Konradin@konradinkunze· May 10

Finally received my copy of #ArtisticProvenanceResearch by Tal Adler & Sharon MacDonald. Happy to have contributed a chapter on "Flinn Works and the ancestors in boxes"

Book cover "Artistic Provenance Research"

Open book with a photograph of The hanging tree in Old Moshi with an advertisement for the Marejesho exhibtion 2022.

From Performing Provenance Research to Community-Centred Engagement: Flinn Works and the Ancestors in Boxes
Konradin Kunze

As a child, I occasionally visited my father at his office at the University of Freiburg where he worked as a professor. I enjoyed strolling through the boilding I favoured the rooftop terrace, which offered a good view of my picturesque hometown with the medieval cathedral tower and the adjacent mountains of the Black Forest. I also liked the libraries. cpecially the old books and archives. I never went to the cellar of the building (I likely would have been denied access); had I done so, I would tune encountered hundreds of ancestors in boxes. Like many universities and museums in Europe and North America, the University of Freiburg holds a so-called skull collection: remains of ancestors from many parts of the world, largely appropriated during the German colonial period. Had I seen them, 1 possibly would have asked questions like, Who are these people? Why are they here? Why are they stored in boxes? Where did they come from? Who took them and for what reason? Maybe I would have even thought of their friends and families, wondering if they miss them.
Many years later, once I learned of the existence of these ancestors. 1 was led back to libraries and archives in a quest to find answers to these questions. By then, however, I had chosen a profession that is not usually practiced in academic venues but instead in other bourgeois temples. In Freiburg, the city's theatre is situated just opposite the university. Here, first as a child, I began my career as an actor.
In order to ask these questions without having met the ancestors in the cellar, I had to learn about the racist colonial practice of trafficking

Konradin@konradinkunze· Apr 25

Agnes Lisa Wegner und Cece Mlay auf der Bühne mit dem Grimme Preis.

Konradin@konradinkunze· Mar 8

#FeministischerKampftag #b0803

Demonstrationszug in der Oranienstraße Berlin. Kinder halten ein Schild mit Symbolen für die Gleichberechtigung aller Geschlechter in die Höhe.

Konradin@konradinkunze· Feb 28

Gestern im Briefkasten, gleich angefangen zu lesen. So klar und stark geschrieben. Unbedingt empfehlenswert. #deutschland #rassismus #ddr

Buchcover Titel “Tupoka Ogette: Trotzdem Zuhause". Cover Bild zeigt Tupoka Ogette auf der Lehne einer blauen Parkbank sitzend, lachend.

Konradin@konradinkunze· Feb 21

Only after burial of the remains in Kibosho and the return of the belongings the wounds of the colonial crimes can start to heal. The Molelia family & the Kibosho community are mourning since 126 years. How many more?

Colonial black and white photograph: Mangi Molelia of Kibosho wrapped in a cloth with checked rims standing at the entry of his palace, holding a long spear. On his right sits his mother, right to her stands Molelia’s younger brother. Left of Molelia stands a child, maybe his child Hamisi or a younger sister. Behind her a Mchili (minister) or high ranking warrior holding a rifle.

Konradin@konradinkunze· Feb 21

These personal belongings were shipped to Germany right after the hangings. Kurt Johannes was awarded a medal by the king of Württemberg for sending them. The belongings might have been looted from the royal palace of Kibosho, which was subsequently burned down in the same year 1900.

Colonial black and white photograph of the royal palace in Kibosho: a three storey wooden construction with galleries and a grass thatched roof. In front of the palace sits Mangi Molelia on a chair, surrounded by family members and warriors with spears. Many more Kibosho people are standing on the galleries.

Konradin@konradinkunze· Feb 21

A moment of empowerment: at @lindenmuseum.bsky.social the descendants put on the blanket/coat of the Mangi.

Tony Molelia in protective clothing wrapped in the blanket of the Mangi of Kibosho: a read cotton cloth with beads and hyrax fur. Director of Linden Museum de Castro on the left holding one end of the blanket, Konradin Kunze standing on the right watching.

Konradin@konradinkunze· Feb 21

Apart from the ancestral remains, also personal belongings of Mangi Sina and Mangi Molelia had been sent to German museums by the colonial officers. The Molelia descendants saw them in the depot of the Ethnological Museum in Berlin and at @lindenmuseum.bsky.social in Stuttgart.

Sirili and Tony in white protective clothes with gloves and face masks in the depot of the Ethnological Museum in Berlin Dahlem. Placed on a table with plastic cover are belongings from Kibosho, among them a metal club and metal stick.

Konradin@konradinkunze· Feb 21

A transfer of custodianship was signed by them and Marion Ackermann, president of @kulturspk.bsky.social. But the ancestors cannot return for burial until the Tanzanian government approves of the repatriation.

Marion Ackermann and Sirili Molelia Mushi signing an agreement at the Villa Heydt in Berlin. Tony and Mboro sitting next to them.

Konradin@konradinkunze· Feb 21

On invitation of @kulturspk.bsky.social Sirili Mushi Molelia, grandson of Mangi Molelia , & Sirili’s son Tony travelled to the country of the murderers of their ancestors. It was a painful journey. They encountered the remains and urged all stakeholders to enable a swift repatriation to Kibosho.

Mnyaka Sururu Mboro together with Sirili and Tony Molelia Mushi offering a sip of alcohol to an Isale plant (draceana) as symbolic gesture to acknowledge the ancestors on the occasion of a public talk at Institute for European Ethnology at Humboldt University Berlin.

Konradin@konradinkunze· Feb 21

During the mobile research exhibition MAREJESHO by Flinn Works, Berlin Postkolonial and Old Moshi Cultural Tourism, some of the ancestors were identified through DNA analysis and/or archival research. Among them Mangi Molelia, his brother and another relative in Berlin in 2023.

Mobile exhibition Marejesho: an open structure on a lawn in Kibosho. Several visitors in front and in the exhibition.

Konradin@konradinkunze· Feb 21

Many of their remains were shipped to Berlin by Moritz Merker on request of museum director Felix von Luschan for racist research. Descendant families have been demanding their repatriation since decades without knowing where exactly the ancestors were kept.

Colonial black and white photograph by Hans Meyer: German officers in uniforms sitting at a coffee table in the garden of the military station in Old Moshi. To the feet of the officers sits a Black girl in a European dress, in the centre at the table Amely Johannes, to the right her husband Kurt Johannes, left to her Moritz Merker. In the back a Black boy, probably a servant, in simple clothing.

Konradin@konradinkunze· Feb 21

German officers Kurt Johannes & Moritz Merker accused young Mangi Molelia of conspiring with Mangi Meli of Moshi, Mangi Ngalami of Kibongoto, Mangi Lobulu of Meru and the Laigwanak of Arusha against the Germans. On 2/3/1900 19 leaders of Kilimanjaro and Meru were publicly hanged in Old Moshi.

Hanging tree in Old Moshi, Kilimanjaro, with the memorial. In front a street.

Konradin@konradinkunze· Feb 21

Mangi Molelia ruled the kingdom of Kibosho at the slopes of mount Kilimanjaro from 1897-1900. He succeeded his powerful father Mangi Sina, who resisted the German colonial army, but was eventually defeated in 1891 by Hermann von Wissmann.

Colonial black and white drawing of Mangi Sina and his warriors with rifles, long spears, shield, feathered headgears and jewellery.

Konradin@konradinkunze· Feb 21

Descendants of Mangi Molelia of Kibosho visited Germany for the 1st time to pay respect to their (great) grandfather & 2 relatives, whose remains were identified in Berlin @kulturspk.bsky.social via DNA analysis. Molelia had been hanged on the order of colonial officers in 1900. 🧵 about their visit.

Sirili Hamisi Molelia Mushi and his son Tony in winter clothes in front of the entrance to the Archaeological Centre Berlin, snow on the ground.

Konradin@konradinkunze· Feb 13

Descendants of Mangi Molelia of Kibosho, Kilimanjaro, demand repatriation of his remains. He was hanged in 1900 by colonial officers, his head and personal belongings shipped to Germany. Identified by DNA @kulturspk.bsky.social Talk with descendants on 18/02 17:30 Institute for European Ethnology

Talk with descendants on the restitution of ancestors to Tanzania
when?
18.02.2026 5.30 - 7 pm
in English & Swahili (translated)
with
• Sirili & Tony Molelia Mushi, descendants of Mangi Molelia
• Mynaka Sururu Mboro, Berlin Postkolonial
moderated by Konradin Kunze
Institut für Europäische Ethnologie | Room 408 | Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Str. 40-41 | 10117 Berlin
organized by BERLIN POSTKOLONIAL, Decolonize Berlin and Flinn Works

For decades, families from Tanzania have been demanding the restitution of the remains of their ancestors: executed leaders of the resistance against the colonial power in so-called "German East Africa".
Around 1900, thousands of ancestors were sent from the colonies to Berlin for racist research. Cultural, spiritual and everyday belongings were appropriated at the request of ethnological museums.
As part of the MAREJESHO research exhibition, some of the missing leaders were identified for the first time: among them Mangi Molelia of Kibosho, his brother and another relative.
In a public talk Sirili and Tony Molelia Mushi speak about their search and the urgency of bringing the ancestors and their belongings home to Kibosho, Kilimanjaro.
BERLIN POSTKOLONIAL
DECOLONIZE BERLIN
FLINN WORKS

Konradin@konradinkunze· Dec 18

Konradin@konradinkunze· Dec 18

Protest gegen den #Kürzungshaushalt #Berlin #BerlinIstKultur

Protestierende mit Fahnen vor dem Berliner Abgeordnetenhaus.

Konradin@konradinkunze· Dec 12

#Tanzania #Berlin #FullAccountability Silent protest against the killings of protestors by the Tanzanian government. Tanzanian embassy in Berlin.

A blanket on the pathway with flowers, candles and a Tanzania flag. Protest posters with texts “New Tanzania”, “Free Polepole”, “FreeTunduLissu”, “we demand new constitution”

Konradin@konradinkunze· Nov 14

#Berlin jetzt: #FridaysForFuture @fridaysforfuture.de @fffberlin.bsky.social

Demo Fridays For Future Klimastreik vor dem Brandenburger Tor. Menschen stehen um eine Bühne mit Lampions.

Roter Lampion mit Text: Fight for Future. Fight for Climate Justice

Konradin@konradinkunze· Oct 17

Alles bereit für CARBON NEGATIVE Kompensations-Performance im Lichthof Theater. Heute und Morgen in #Hamburg. #Performance #Klima #CO2

Konradin@konradinkunze· Oct 13

Wenig gespart, viel verloren. Protest gegen Kürzungen Atelierprogramm #BerlinistKultur

Protestierende vor dem Abgeordnetenhaus Berlin.