"#LauraNsengiyumva is a Belgian artist of Rwandan origin, born in 1987. [...] Focusing on decolonial critique, her work responds to a need to materialise this in order to create new social relationships. [...] The roughly 250 pages of our report contain a whole series of recommendations for ‘the #decolonisation of the #Brussels Capital Region’s public space’. We worked on it for a year and a half, alongside 14 experts, at the request of the Brussels Secretary of State #PascalSmet. Today, I feel more conflicted than proud, especially because of the follow-up to our proposal concerning the infamous equestrian statue of #LeopoldII on the Place du Trône. On the one hand, because the ambient anti-wokism of our group did not want to mention clearly my work #PeoPL as the source of inspiration. On the other hand, because in spite of courageous stands taken for the whole city, the recommendation of this specific case still ends in the status quo. [...] . At the end of 2017, behind closed doors, a senior member of the Royal Museum for Central Africa (#RMCA) tried to make me aware of the radical nature of the artistic gesture I was trying to accomplish 'Would you like us to melt your father?' "
https://www.eye-to-eye.online/laura-nsengiyumva/
#Belgium #Congo #colonisation

Three activists discuss European Blackface tradition (Zwarte Piet), blackness and anti-racist activism in the Low Countries.
#OlaveBasabose is a Burundi-born jurist and queer, anti-racist, feminist activist. She is a published author (ZWART), organiser, performer and speaker locally and internationally. She grew up in The Netherlands and currently resides in Brussels.
#LauraNsengiyumva is a Brussels-based artivist of Rwandan origin. She studied architecture and is currently doing her PhD in Arts. She is one of the prominent figures in the struggle against Black Pete in Belgium and appears yearly as winter figure "Queen Nikkolah", whose radical existence is both festive and critical.
#StephanieCollingwoodeWilliams is a social worker, anthropology graduate, poet and activist. She was raised in Ghana and studied in both Belgium and The Netherlands. She is involved in various decolonial and climate justice movements (such as the prominent Kick Out Zwarte Piet movement in The Netherlands) and currently resides in Brussels.
Activate CC!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeDknph-z04

#QueenNikkolah, l'alternative #décoloniale à #SaintNicolas
"Saint Nicolas, si tu as un #esclave noir, c'est que tu as un problème"
Fantastique #LauraNsengiyumva!
https://peertube.social/videos/watch/ba692633-95c3-4be0-a97e-ae54014d24f3

La base.
"Des experts de l'ONU appellent la Belgique à s'excuser pour les "atrocités" de la colonisation"
https://www.rtbf.be/info/belgique/detail_des-experts-de-l-onu-appellent-la-belgique-a-s-excuser-pour-les-atrocites-de-la-colonisation?id=10142894
(Photo : installation PeoPL at Nuit blanche 2018 by #LauraNsengiyumva)