In this talk we focus on damaged ecologies in the mining town of Tsumeb that have emerged through colonialism, apartheid, and environmental racism. The former copper mine in Tsumeb was expropriated by Haiǁom and Aawambo during German colonialism. Its industrialization led not only to the disruption of the indigenous-African copper economy but also to the eco-racist disruptions of ecologies especially linked to a huge amount of arsenic byproducts over the last hundred years. Until now the Tsumeb smelter processes the dirtiest copper in the world for German companies. The perspective on environmental racism and ecological pollution demonstrate how German colonialism in Namibia should be considered as an ongoing and often opaque process.


Elli Stella Udda Imalwa-Nangolo, Spokesperson of the Municipality of Tsumeb

As a Public Relations practitioner, my career has been defined by my ability to strategically manage and enhance the reputation of the Municipality of Tsumeb. Having worked in the field of journalism and now communications, I have been exposed to different sectors of our societies, and I learned how to deal with individuals from different backgrounds and cultures.
I have honed my skills in communication, media relations, crisis management, and strategic planning to become a trusted advisor to executives and councilors. I was drawn to the field because of its dynamic nature and the ability to have a direct impact on the success of residents and the municipality. My personal and professional experiences have shaped me to be a strong and bold character, able to initiate new ideas, and improve on existing ones through a strategic approach.

Philemon Sheya Kaluwapa, Honorary Chairman of the Lukopane-Namibia Culture Society

Philemon Sheya Kaluwapa is currently the Honorary Chairman of the Lukopane-Namibia Culture Society. He studied photo technique in East Berlin. He was the Secretary of Culture of the Namibian student organisation in the German Democratic Republic. In West Berlin, Kaluwapa was one of the founding members of the African Writers Association AWA-Finnaba. Their activities included the centenary of the Berlin Africa Conference at the Hebbel Theatre in 1984 to commemorate the events which led to the division of Africa into colonies. He has recently held presentations at the Photographic Gallery Hippolyte, Helsinki; Albertinum, Dresden; the Humboldt Forum, Berlin (all 2022); and the Changing Room, Berlin (2021).


Naomie Gramlich, Lecturer and researcher at the University of Potsdam

Naomie Gramlich is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Potsdam. In 2022 they submitted their dissertation with the title “A Situated Media Geology: The Coloniality of the Copper Mine in Tsumeb". They is Co-Editor of the anthology Feministisches Spekulieren. Genealogien, Narrationen, Zeitlichkeiten, Berlin (Kadmos) 2020. Besides several academic and journalist articles in the field of media studies, intersectional and queer approaches, de-colonial practice, and visual art, they participated in collaborative formats like audio guides and exhibition projects. They has recently held presentations at University of Cologne (2023), University of Halle (2022), Humboldt Forum (2022) and joined a discussions on film archives and intersectionality at proQuote Film/Berlin Biennale (2021).