Public opening ceremony of the women's place of Bilillee Machbuba at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg

The memorial plaque for Bilillee Machbuba has stood on Konrad-Wachsmann-Allee since last December. Students on the BTU4Future module have spent the last few months working with artist Patricia Vester to further develop the women's memorial. A place has now been created around the Women's Place for Bilillee Ajiamé Machbuba at BTU to reflect on different perspectives on (colonial) history and, in particular, to highlight marginalised perspectives and decolonise cultures of remembrance.

Programme

12:00-16:00
Hands-on construction day for students at the Frauenort
open to all who are interested to help out

17:00-19:00
Official opening ceremony of the 50th women's site

17:00 Greetings

• University management of BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg (requested)
• Patricia Vester, intervention designer and process facilitator on colonial contexts, lecturer as part of "BTU4Future"
• Elio Gäbelein, Women's Political Council and FrauenOrte Land Brandenburg

17:30 Unveiling of the plaque and presentation of the student room design

17:45 Open discussion: Critical remembrance culture at BTU and in Cottbus

• Dr. Gabriela Willbold, Initiator of Black Culture of Remembrance on Bilillee
• Dr. Stefan Körner, Board of the Fürst-Pückler-Museum Foundation
• Aline Erdmann, Equal Opportunities Commissioner of the City of Cottbus

18:30 Closing with a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony

Location: Konrad-Wachsmann-Allee 4-2, 03046 Cottbus, https://maps.app.goo.gl/SPATuBNQvZXoDpvf7

Who was Bilillee Machbuba?

Bilillee was one of many black people who were enslaved and exploited at European courts in the 17th and 18th centuries. She was born around 1825 in Abyssinia, in what is now Ethiopia. Bilillee was captured, enslaved and abducted. Sold to Herrmann von Pückler-Muskau in February 1837 at a slave market. He named her Machbuba, Arabic for "mistress", and took her on a three-year journey from Egypt via Austria to Muskau. Black servants were a status symbol for European aristocrats of the time. Often, like Bilillee, sexually exploited. Bilillee. Died as a young girl in Muskau in 1840. How do we want to remember her today?

Registration for participation is not necessary.

We look forward to open this important place at the BTU together with you!