Uppity: The Berlin Conference Specials

On the morning of Saturday the 15th November 1884, representatives of fourteen mainly European powers (Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Russia, the United States, the Ottoman empire, “King” Leopold II’s “International Congo Society”, Denmark, Sweden-Norway and Netherlands), assembled in Berlin to discuss a highly unusual conflict aversion and closer cooperation pact: how best to divide Africa – her land, resources and people - into their own properties. This meeting, which came to be known as the “Berlin Conference”, was a rare moment in which European-dominated empires and the Ottomans agreed that it was best to share rather than fight, buy or sell contested “resources”.

Not a single African was present at this conference. Yet 140 years later, the ‘Berlin Walls, which were erected across Africa by the Berlin Conference are still standing – mainly in the minds of Africans.

Starting this Black History Month, Uppity – in collaboration with Oxfam – will be exploring the legacy and impact, wealth and poverty of European colonialism in Africa in the Trials of Colonialism.

In our first edition, on the 16th of October, we will seek to explore and understand how colonialism impacted Africans by asking and answering the question:

"On balance, did European colonialism benefit or disadvantage Africa?"

The full list of speakers will be announced shortly; however, the jury is you: the audience.

And you will be able to cast your vote at the end of the debate.

Our second edition of Trials of Colonialism will be on the 12th of November. We will seek to understand how colonialism impact participating European states and their populations.

Please note that the programme will be filmed live and streamed online.

Host or Publisher Nels Abbey