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DW Shadows of Colonialism en Season 2 Composite

Shadows of German Colonialism

A series exploring how German colonialism in Africa met fierce resistance, and descended into exploitation and violence. We find out how Germany's colonial legacy is remembered today.

Through 6 podcasts and short videos, a new season of Shadows of German Colonialism sheds light on Germany's devastating colonial history across Africa, and specifically its impact on women. We meet heroines who fought German conquest and exploitation, and discover how women held communities and histories together against brutal colonial oppression in Tanzania, Namibia and Cameroon. 

The Shadows of German Colonialism series is produced by DW, Germany's international broadcaster, with funding from the German Foreign Ministry (AA). Our artwork is designed and rendered by Nigeria-based studio, Comic Republic.

Where to find the podcast?

Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

Production Team:

Cai Nebe - Lead producer

Julia Hitz - Lead producer

Thomas Mösch - Coordinator

Claus Stäcker - Executive producer

Historical consultants: 

Prof. Lily Mafela

Prof. Kwame Osei Kwarteng

Reginald Kirey 

Prof. Roland Ndille

Nancy Rushohora

Skip next section Latest Episode

Latest Episode

How do young Tanzanians interpret colonial history?

The 77 Percent is in Tanzania to talk to high school students about German colonial rule and how it still impacts them.
November 18, 202409:59 min
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EP6 Namibia Remembering the genocide, looking to the future 3

Namibian women keeping traditions alive and history near

Namibian women keeping traditions alive and history near

The atrocities of German colonialism remained largely, and purposefully, obscure as Namibians endured successive German and British colonial administration. Under the South African apartheid rule that only ended in 1990, there was little space to confront the crimes. But women kept, and continue to keep, their people's history and culture alive.
HistoryDecember 7, 202411:17 min
EP6 Namibia Remembering the genocide, looking to the future

Remembering the genocide, looking to the future

Remembering the genocide, looking to the future

Namibian women first endured Germany's colonial-era genocide. But for generations they have been at the forefront of not letting their people's history slip away, despite successive, repressive regimes - from German colonialism, to apartheid while Namibia was under South African rule.
HistoryDecember 7, 202401:29 min
EP5: How Namibian women defied an extermination order

How Namibian women resisted German colonial conquest

How Namibian women resisted German colonial conquest

Germany's colonial conquest in Namibia against Herero and Nama was a war against an entire people, not a conventional army. Survivors faced shocking conditions and unfathomable hardship, but women endured and kept their communities alive.
HistoryDecember 7, 202411:28 min
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