Berlin Conference's Legacy and Colonial Challenges

The 140th anniversary of the Berlin Conference, which led to the partitioning of Africa among European powers, highlights ongoing challenges in addressing colonial legacies. Germany's limited public commemoration of its colonial past contrasts sharply with its dedication to remembering Nazi crimes, as illustrated by the solitary plaque marking the conference's location in Berlin. In Namibia, the impact of German colonialism is still discussed among students and historians, reflecting on its brutal history and ongoing influence. Meanwhile, in South Africa, colonial figures are controversially memorialized despite their oppressive legacies. The Berlin Conference's decisions continue to affect African nations like Cameroon, where colonial divisions have led to significant conflict and division.