Tensions at the AfricaMuseum in Belgium

Tervuren (Belgium). Léopold II saw him as a symbol of Belgian colonial power, as a showcase of a tamed elsewhere and of wealth to exploit. After five years of renovation, the Royal Museum of Central Africa of Tervuren became, in 2018, the AfricaMuseum with the ambition of adopting a critical distance from the colonial ideology and of exposing a contemporary and decolonized vision of the ‘Africa. Historian and former diplomat, Bart Ouvry was appointed to the general management of the museum in 2023 and has set himself the mission of continuing the transformation of the museum.

Nadia Nsayi, head of the cultural programming of AfricaMuseum.

© Broerdelijk Delen

But voices rise to judge the change in the institution too shy and not radical enough, like Nadia Nsayi, political scientist, author of Daughter of decolonization and Congolina And responsible for the museum’s cultural programming since 2021. In several interviews and white cards published in the Flemish press, then French -speaking, she exhibits her grievances and announces that she plans to leave the Africamuseum. She believes that if the museum has been renovated, it has not been decolonized. “The museum gives the impression of having decolonized, but I always see paternalism with African partners. »» It then notes the too low presence in positions of responsibility of experts of African origin or the Congolese diaspora in Belgium.

Bart Ouvry, director of AfricaMuseum. © Africamuseum

Bart Ouvry, director of AfricaMuseum.

© Africamuseum

For his part, Bart Ouvry wishes to point out that he is working on a more equitable representation of people of African origin in the management bodies. “” In the new management board, he specifies, There are two people who have Afro-descendants history and the scientific council also, three of the eight experts have a “background diaspora”. »» However, he recognizes that an effort remains to be made in recruitment. “But in the selection of staff, there is no quota, federal regulations do not allow it. »» Taking for example the Wereldmuseum in Rotterdam, the political scientist encourages the appointment of a black co-director. “Personally, I am in favor of it, but again it must be decided at the political level”, Indicates Bart Ouvry.

The timing of this protest eruption is undoubtedly not innocent when, according to persistent rumors, the fate of federal institutions is on the table of government negotiators.

On the other hand, Nadia Nsayi regrets the name of Africamuseum while the largest part of the collection comes from the Congo. Pushing the reflection further, it proposes to rename it to make it a museum of colonialism in Africa (Congo, Rwanda, Burundi). “” Tervuren can become a unique place where individual visitors like school groups can discover the reality of the Belgian colonial past and the impact he still has today on our imagination, as well as on migration, racism, climate, biodiversity and commercial links. »»

Bart Ouvry recalls that the Africamuseum is not limited to its collections and that the museum has the particularity of combining three functions: the management of the collection, the museum and the scientific institution. “It is for me a wealth of having these three activities and it is the first time that we have tried to bring them together. »»

If he includes the criticisms addressed, he underlines that the transformation of the museum takes time, especially in a context of budgetary restrictions. “” It is a fact that in the colonial history room, we hardly find the point of view of the Congolese. It is not necessarily easy, but I think we can do better. In addition, this room does not speak at all, or very little, of the economic factor – what were the motivations of the colonizers and what was the economic operating system which was still important. I would finally add that colonization and its effects did not stop in 1960. For some of the economic operations, there is continuity until today. We also note it, but too discreetly, I think. »»

The tensions and sometimes the misunderstanding that are marked around the Africamuseum are a reflection of those which are present in society, and necessarily within the various African diasporas, about the discourse still focused today on colonization. In her multiple positions, Nadia Nsayi is supported by Mireille-Tsheusi Robert and the Fémïya association which organizes feminist and decolonial visits of the museum. It has just started a new cycle which proposes to discuss ten challenges for a truly decolonial museum. “The museum must call for reflection rather than sensation and emotion. »» During her visits, she has noticed a certain confusion in part of adolescents who tend to assimilate Africa of yesteryear to contemporary Africa and feel reinforced in their stereotypes.

For his part, Bart Ouvry is convinced that it will take more than a cartel to deconstruct colonial language and that it goes through mediators. The site is open and it will be long.

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