Basel Colonial City Tour

In recent years, the active role played by the "neutral nation without colonies" in the colonization of the Global South has been increasingly in the spotlight in Switzerland. In particular, the country’s direct joint responsibility through private initiatives and businesses as well as participation in the cultural production of colonial images came to attention. Yet another important question that needs to be explored, is the influence of colonial knowledge and wealth on Switzerland and especially major Swiss cities like Basel. Culturescapes together with the Basel Colonial network came up with a two-part tour uncovering traces of the Basel role in past and current colonial practices involving, but not limited to, the Saharan region. In part one, we different speakers will highlight the complex connections between the wealth of Basel, the history of the commodities theft, and multiple ways those affect the Saharan region. The second part offers an insight into the topics of slavery and migration. While in the colonial era people were abducted and enslaved against their will, today people live in refugee camps and are prevented from their freedom of movement by force. The city walks offer participants a chance to get a new perspective on the city of Basel by carefully revealing its colonial heritage. The city walks are spaces for learning, action, and direct experience. Second tour: Slavery and Migration Date: Sunday, October 22, 2023 Time: 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (double tour) Duration: Around 2 hours per tour In our second city tour, we will highlight the topics of slavery and migration. While in the colonial era, people were abducted and enslaved against their will, today, people live in refugee camps and are hindered in their freedom of movement by violence. 1. No (re)curse 4 (3), worlds Location: Kunsthalle Basel Our tour starts at the site-specific, monumental diagrammatic artwork by Nolan Oswald Dennis spread across the back wall of Kunsthalle Basel. It deals with colonialism, referring to the urgent questions of compensation and reparation claims. 2. Flight from Western Sahara: Camp for Saharawi Refugees Location: Mittlere Brücke The majority of African migration takes place within the continent. Take the example of more than 100,000 Saharawi refugees who have been living in camps in the barren desert of Algeria or in the part occupied by Morocco since 1975, where they are exposed to human rights violations. 3. Racist naturalization practices/co-determination/citizenship Place: City Hall 4. Fortress Europe: migration defense and repressive asylum policy Place: Spiegelhof A small fraction of African migration comes to Europe and Switzerland. To prevent this migration, Europe, with the participation of Switzerland, has built a fortress, which costs thousands of people their lives every year. For those who make it to Europe and Switzerland, a repressive asylum system awaits. 5. Unofficial Hiking Society Location: Uni Pharma Feminist Perspective on Pharma & Slavery.   In German. Admission normal: 25 CHF Admission reduced: 15 CHF (Ahv, IV, students) Free admission:  Refugees with status N, B, F or S