Koloniale Grüsse aus Samoa (Colonial greetings from Samoa)

“anyone who has not lived for years among the natives, whose heart does not beat for them, and who does not feel a sense of charity for people who think and feel differently, will never understand the joy with which a called colonizer sets to work.” (wilhelm solf, 1908)

“the global north conquered and plundered during its colonial heyday, and still holds those countries hostage for debt, but it is also now depriving people of life’s necessities through its own addiction to high-carbon luxury.” (carola rackete, 2019)

100 years after wilhelm solf’s reign as german governor on samoa, nele solf and madhumita nandi have traveled to the island nation in search of remnants of a forgotten history. at neumarkt, the journey becomes a lecture performance. the question is: do we have to declare our colonial heritage for tax purposes?

an evening for the rich of this earth. an evening for zurich.

in collaboration with zürcher hochschule der künste

sponsors: school of commons, stiftung anne-marie schindler