For decades, Belgium failed to return the remains of hundreds of people taken by force from former colonies. A draft law could change that, but critics say it is not going far enough.
Tag: Colonization
Democracy Crumbling in African Countries Once Ruled by France
A wave of military coups and presidents clinging to power are two sides of the same anti-democratic coin plaguing Francophone Africa, experts say.
Paulin Hountondji, Revolutionary African Philosopher, Dies at 81
He rebelled against efforts to force African ways of thinking into the European worldview. His thoughts had the effect of a bomb in African intellectual life.
Colombia’s Special Word for ‘You’
Two centuries after independence from Spain, many Colombians still use “sumercé,” meaning “your mercy” as an everyday address.
History, by and of Women
Dabbling in the Anne de Courcy extended universe.
Manhattan or Pulau Rhun? In 1667, Nutmeg Made the Choice a No-Brainer.
Growing a spice once worth its weight in gold, a tiny isle in Indonesia was so coveted that the Dutch traded Manhattan for it. Some 350 years later, life on the two islands couldn’t be more different.
What Is ‘Settler Colonialism’?
A look at the academic roots of the idea, which has stirred fierce debate when applied to Israel.
Abandoned Cemetery of Algerians Highlights Painful Episode for France
Family groups have been calling for the excavation of land believed to hold the bodies of at least 50 children — the sons and daughters of Algerians who fought for France — who died in internment camps.
Using Dance to Tell the Story of Mozambique’s Struggles
Mozambique’s most influential contemporary choreographer uses bodies in motion to artfully — and clearly — trace the complex recent history of his country.
Who’s a ‘Colonizer’? How an Old Word Became a New Weapon
In bitter debates from Israel to Africa to America, invoking a brutal history has become a powerful accusation.