Hidden histories of slavery and its afterlives

The exhibition CAPE X UTRECHT dives into the relationship between the Cape colony and Utrecht. When the Dutch government and the King recently apologized for the Dutch involvement in slavery, South Africa was not mentioned. Who remembers the history of slavery across the Indian Ocean? How does this history affect people in current-day South Africa? And why is this history largely forgotten in the Netherlands?

For thousands of years, |xam, Khoekhoe, and many other peoples lived in Southern Africa. From 1652, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) established a colonial settlement in the Cape, which by 1658 relied completely on an inhumane system of slavery, one that also linked Utrecht to the Cape. This history laid the foundation for the cruel system of 'apartheid', which is a Dutch word.

CAPE X UTRECHT: Hidden Histories of Slavery & its Afterlives is a collaborative project of HKU fellow Nancy Jouwe and The Black Archives. The exhibition features unique archival material and art works by Jasper Albinus, Diana Ferrus, Neo Muyanga, Shishani Vranckx, Judith Westerveld, alumna HKU Photography Farren van Wyck, and Carine Zaayman.

Exhibition
7 October – 4 November
Wednesday to Saturday, 13:00 – 18:00

During the exhibition, we offer a public programme and guided tours:

Saturday 28 October
14.00 - 15.00 h: City Walking Tour CAPE X UTRECHT (Starting at AG, ending on Domplein)

16.00 h: Artist talk - Nancy Jouwe in conversation with Judith Westerveld, Jasper Albinus & Shishani Vranckx (AG)

Saturday 4 November
14.00 h: Artist talk - Nancy Jouwe in conversation with Carine Zaayman & Farren van Wyk (AG)

16.00 - 17.00 h: City Walking Tour CAPE X UTRECHT (Starting at AG, ending on Domplein

Nancy Jouwe is a cultural historian and works as a freelance researcher, writer, lecturer and public speaker with a focus on the (post)colonial past and present, intersectionality and social and cultural practices. In 2011 Jouwe, with Esther Captain, initiated the city walk Sporen van Slavernij Utrecht and as co-editor and -author she published Slavery and the City of Utrecht in 2021. Since 2022 she has been a fellow at HKU.

The Black Archives (TBA) is a historical archive and cultural centre in Amsterdam where people can go for inspiring conversations, substantive activities and books from Black and other perspectives often under-researched elsewhere. As part of the commemorative year, TBA organizes public programs on underexposed aspects of slavery and its legacy, healing and recovery. At its Amsterdam location, the exhibition No Healing, Without Recovery is on view through the end of October.

Exhibtion design: BUROBRAAK