Brief history of Africans in Germany Introduction - American ...

on the goodwill of African. In the late 19 th Century colonialism had become
fashionable, once European countries power began to partition Africa.
Economic , power and prestige were the main reasons. Germany acquired
Togoland (Togo, today), the Cameroons (today the Republic of Cameroons),
German Southwest (today Namibia), and German East Africa (today
Tanzania).
Contrary to popular beliefs African kings felt that their agreements as
protectorates and trade alliances. However, the European exerted their
power to colonize the countries.
Beetween November 15, 1884 and February 2, 1885 the Imperial
Chancellor, Prince Bismarck, with the urging of the French government,
held an international conference in Berlin, Germany, called the Congo
Conference to discuss issues of sovereignty
Metropole Berlin 1919-1929 [Weimar Republic]
Many of the people of African descent who lived in the African Diaspora in Berlin as
well in the African Diaspora in Great Britain and North America developed careers in the
new entertainment industry as artists, dancers, singers and musicians. The majority of the
Black men in Germany found employment in the entertainment industry and only a few
became skilled manual workers such as shoemakers or cooks. The women who were
employed worked almost exclusively in the entertainment industry.
The situation of persons of African descent, who lived in Berlin after World War 1, was
more difficult and complicated than in the period before. As there were surely various
opinions on the colonial question, it could have resulted in tensions, since opponents or
supporters of the new conditions often worked together as performers in places of
entertainment. One group formed around the Cameroonian Martin Dibobe, who was a
driver for the elevated and underground train system in Berlin (today the Berliner
Verkehrsbetriebe [BVG]). Dibobe was elected as the authorized representative of
Cameroon people and presented a petition to the Weimar National Assembly.
Two Survivors of the Remember: James and Juliana Wonja Michael
James and Juliana Wonja [Black survivors of the Nazi era]
Michael was born in Berlin in 1916 and 1921 respectively. Their African father
Theophilus Wonja Michael traveled to Germany in 1894 and was one of the
Cameroonians who settled in Berlin. James and Juliana, after the death of their father in
1934, were separated from their sister Christiana and brother Theodor. Their mother died
in 1926. Living by themselves they escaped the Nazi terror and immigrated to France by