How do different histories of oppression—such as the Holocaust, slavery, and colonialism—intersect and inform one another?
🇫🇷 FR ⭢ Tout en reliant les histoires (case study in French)

Context 

The Connecting Histories event is deeply rooted in the concept of multidirectional memory, as formulated by Michael Rothberg in his book Multidirectional Memory: Remembering the Holocaust in the Age of Decolonization (2009). This framework challenges the idea that different histories of trauma, such as the Holocaust and other genocides, slavery, or colonialism, should be remembered in competition with one another. Instead, Rothberg argues that these collective memories interact, intersect, and shape each other, creating a shared space for dialogue and reflection.

This perspective is particularly relevant for contemporary European societies, where histories of Jewish and Afrodescendant communities have often remained separate in public discourse. The event recognizes that the legacies of slavery, colonialism, and the Holocaust are interconnected in shaping issues of social justice, cultural restitution, and collective memory today.

By facilitating a dialogue between Jewish and Afrodescendant communities, Connecting Histories seeks to explore these intersections, address historical injustices, and promote a more inclusive approach to remembrance. The conference in Belgium, for example, focuses on post-WWII and colonial-era restitution, recognizing how different historical traumas can inform contemporary debates on cultural heritage, discrimination, and social justice.

Highlights 

Dialogue Between Jewish and Afrodescendant Communities. This event marked a rare and significant moment where representatives from both communities openly discussed their respective struggles for historical justice.

The discussion challenged the conventional separation of Holocaust and colonial memory, instead highlighting how both histories inform contemporary debates on cultural restitution.

Shift from Historical Trauma to Collective Action. The dialogue moved beyond historical grievances to discussing practical steps for activism, policy change, and future collaborations.

Final Takeaway: A Call for Continued Collaboration. The session demonstrated that multidirectional memory is not just a theoretical concept but a practical tool for justice and reconciliation.

Challenges 

Tensions Between Competing Historical Narratives

  • One of the main challenges was navigating the potential competition between different historical narratives.
  • While MultiMemo promotes the interconnectedness of Jewish and Afrodescendant memories, in public discourse, remembrance is often treated as a zero-sum game, where different histories are seen as competing for recognition rather than enriching each other.
  • Some communities and institutions prioritize their historical traumas and may resist broader comparisons between the Holocaust, colonialism, and slavery.

Sensitivities Around Restitution Debates

  • The question of cultural restitution—whether in the context of stolen Jewish property during and after the Holocaust or looted African artifacts from the colonial era—remains politically sensitive and legally complex.
  • In Belgium, institutions like the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren have faced long-standing demands for the return of looted African heritage to the source communities and their involvement in the re-shaping of the Museum’s permanent exhibit and its narrative, while Jewish organizations have engaged in decades-long struggles for Holocaust-era restitution.
  • Some policymakers and institutions hesitate to acknowledge past injustices or fear that full restitution would set a legal precedent affecting other cases.

Differences in Recognition and Representation

  • The Shoah has been widely documented, institutionalized, and incorporated into European memory policies, whereas the history of slavery and colonialism often remains marginalized in public discourse.
  • Afrodescendant activists argue that while there are official Holocaust memorials and educational programs, there is little institutional support for commemorating colonial crimes.
  • This imbalance in recognition posed a challenge in ensuring that both histories were treated with equal depth and seriousness within the project.

Difficulties in Engaging Wider Audiences

  • Engaging the general public, policymakers, and younger generations in discussions about multidirectional memory required innovative outreach methods.
  • Many people are unfamiliar with the concept of multidirectional memory, making it harder to communicate its relevance to contemporary social justice issues.
  • There was also a risk that highly academic discussions would not resonate with non-specialist audiences.

Solutions

Applying the Concept of Multidirectional Memory in Practice

  • Rather than treating historical traumas (the Holocaust, slavery, colonialism) as separate or competing, the project brought these narratives into conversation with one another.
  • This comparative and interactive approach encouraged participants to see connections between different histories and their shared struggles for recognition and justice.

Artistic Methods: Film, Exhibitions, and Visual Storytelling

  • The project incorporated artistic interpretations of memory to engage audiences beyond traditional academic discussions.
  • The exhibition “The Forgotten of Wars” presented narratives of marginalized histories, making complex historical themes more accessible.
  • The screening of “Destins CroisĂ©s: SolidaritĂ©s entre Juifs et Noirs aux États-Unis” by Rokhaya Diallo & David Rybojad highlighted historical solidarity between Jewish and Black communities, reinforcing the project’s core themes.

Community-Based Discussions and Advocacy

  • The project actively involved Afrodescendant and Jewish organizations, ensuring that historically marginalized voices were represented.
  • Panel discussions featured individuals directly involved in restitution cases, providing practical insights into memory politics.
  • The event was organized in a bilingual format (French-English).

Description 

The initial phase of the project focused on historical research, community outreach, and expert consultations to define its scope. Scholars, activists, and museum professionals collaborated to identify key themes, including cultural restitution, Holocaust memory, and colonial legacies. Case studies on Jewish and Afrodescendant restitution efforts were compiled, laying the groundwork for comparative discussions.

A key milestone was the MultiMemo Dissemination Conference: Connecting Histories, held on February 20, 2025, in Belgium. During this event, the MultiMemo team, CEJI, and UMF introduced the concept of multidirectional memory and the results of the MultiMemo project.

Following this, the public exhibition “The Forgotten of Wars” was discussed, showcasing the stories of WWII resistance activists and fighters of Congolese origin in Belgium and marginalized victims of war, and emphasizing how different historical narratives intersect. The exhibition, curated by Georgine Dibua Mbombo (Bakunshinta), provided a visual and narrative exploration of overlooked histories.

The second part of the event shifted focus from theory to lived experience, featuring a distinguished panel of speakers who shared their expertise and personal insights on the pressing issue of cultural heritage and restitution:

  • Sanchou Kiansumba, an activist from Collectif MĂ©moire Coloniale et Lutte contre les Discriminations, spoke about the long road to recognition for the crimes of European colonialism.
  • Anne Wetsi Mpoma, an independent curator and art historian, emphasized how African heritage, looted during colonial rule, remains locked in European institutions, drawing parallels to the post-war fight for the restitution of Jewish property.
  • Joanna Peczenik, from Collectif Golem, highlighted the challenges of preserving Jewish memory in contemporary Europe, where sites of Jewish history have been transformed, neglected, or commodified.
  • Ronny Naftaniel, secretary of Jewish Heritage The Hague, provided insights into the complex negotiations that led to the restitution of Holocaust-era property, offering valuable strategies that could inform similar efforts for Afrodescendant communities.

The discussion encouraged participants to explore how memory is institutionalized, who has access to cultural heritage, and what justice truly looks like decades or even centuries after historical wrongs have been committed.

The final segment of the event took a different form—storytelling through cinema. The conference concluded with the screening of “Destins Croisés: Solidarités entre Juifs et Noirs aux États-Unis,” a documentary by Rokhaya Diallo and David Rybojad. The film examined the complex historical relationship between Jewish and Black communities in the U.S., exploring moments of solidarity, shared activism, and mutual struggle—from the Civil Rights Movement to contemporary justice movements. Through archival footage, interviews, and historical analysis, the documentary provided a powerful reflection on intercommunal alliances and the ongoing fight for justice.

Lessons learned

The Power of Multidirectional Memory as a Framework

  • Addressing historical traumas as interconnected rather than competing allowed for richer discussions and more inclusive remembrance efforts.
  • Bringing together Jewish and Afrodescendant communities fostered a shared understanding of historical injustices and how different groups have navigated restitution, cultural loss, and historical recognition.

Challenges in Restitution and Cultural Heritage Debates

  • The restitution of looted cultural artifacts remains a complex legal and political issue, requiring long-term advocacy, negotiation, and public engagement.
  • The Jewish community’s experiences with Holocaust-era restitution provided useful strategies that Afrodescendant activists can apply in their efforts for colonial-era restitution and vice versa.

Continue Cross-Community Dialogues

  • Future initiatives should continue fostering dialogue between historically marginalized communities to explore shared histories and common struggles.
  • Expanding the conversation to include Indigenous, Roma, and other displaced communities could further enrich the framework of multidirectional memory.

More info

https://multimemo.difficultheritage.eu/en/blog/event/multimemo-dissemination-event/

Financing

EU funding (CERV)

 

Photos – Annabelle Betz, CEJI