„Shark Island“ and „Sorry for the Genocide“

Shark Island

Film screening in English with German subtitles

Shark Island sheds light on one of the darkest chapters of German colonial history. From 1905 to 1907, the island off Lüderitz in Namibia served as a camp — a site of forced labor, abuse, and mass deaths. Together with descendants of survivors, the documentary project reconstructs the camp’s layout, locates mass burial sites, and makes visible how colonial violence, memory, and the present are intertwined.

The film draws on testimonies, digital reconstructions, and forensic research to break the silence surrounding this part of history and to call for the protection of these sites against further destruction.

Forensic architecture 2024

Sorry for the Genocide

Film Screening with Discussion

Sorry for the Genocide is a documentary journey through the shared history of Namibia and Germany, a history that remains present to this day. Between 1904 and 1908, German colonial troops killed up to 100,000 people in what is now Namibia — a crime regarded as the first genocide of the 20th century. More than a century later, Germany seeks to officially recognize this genocide and issue an apology through the “Joint Declaration.” But the agreement has not been met with universal approval: the descendants of the Ovaherero and Nama, who were directly affected, feel excluded. Their voices remain unheard in the negotiations — they continue to demand justice and genuine participation. The film, specially adapted for BUKO, gives space to all sides and raises the question of how true reconciliation and a shared future might be possible.

Discussion with Theodora Shandé