6 digital stories | 12 collaborative self-portraits
Between 1979 and 1990, around 20,000 young people from Mozambique lived and worked in the GDR. They had come as part of bilateral agreements between the two states; they were needed as workers, they were valued, but they were also treated with hostility. With the end of the GDR, many lost not only their jobs, but also the prospect of continuing their lives in Germany.
The exhibition highlights a historical chapter that has long been overshadowed by German history. It provides a platform for former Mozambican contract workers – the so-called Madgermanes. In six digital stories and twelve collaborative self-portraits, Madgermanes tell their stories and show how strongly their time in the GDR shaped their lives – and continues to do so today.
Digital storytelling and collaborative self-portraits make the Madgermanes active creators. In the artistic process, they decide for themselves what is told, in what form and with which images. The result is subjective, honest and impressive perspectives on a shared past.
See my Story. Copyright by Madgermanes sees itself as a contribution to the culture of remembrance, both in Germany and in Mozambique. It is about recognition, visibility and a more equitable historical narrative. For history is not only made up of major political events, but is shaped by the biographies of the people affected by them.
The exhibition builds bridges between countries and continents, as well as between people of different generations. And it reminds us to honour repressed history – before it is forgotten.
