Eds. Iris Rajanayagam & Ohiniko Mawussé Toffa
Bonn, Germany
June 24, 2025
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To what extent can documenting, archiving, and making marginalized (historical) knowledge available open up spaces in which new ideas can be conceived and decolonial options can be discussed in the memory-political landscape of Germany and beyond? What forms can the transmission and documentation of marginalized knowledge take? How can this knowledge help to confront systems of inequality and unequal treatment, to challenge colonially transmitted narratives, and to create alternative spaces for thought and action?

These questions were the focus of the symposium "Transformative Archives: Approaches and Perspectives for (Historical-)Political Education," held in 2022 in cooperation with the Grassi Museum of Ethnology in Leipzig. Overall, the event encouraged reflection on knowledge production and transfer within marginalized communities, as well as the influence of this knowledge on educational policy concepts and practices. At a transnational level, the symposium explored ways in which so-called transformative archives can illuminate hegemonic narratives and historiographies, and considered their implications for (historical-)political education.

Featuring contributions from guests invited to the symposium, this volume offers insights into the expertise presented and the collaborative discussions. The publication thus also contributes to the dissemination of marginalized knowledge and facilitates a deeper engagement with the topic.