The performers and artists of the Museum of Black Futures honour the lives of the Afro-German children who, in the early twentieth century, became targets of racist propaganda in the Rhineland, just across the Dutch border. Their innocent existence was twisted into an image of fear. Their presence was weaponised by nationalist forces to stir up hatred. What followed was exclusion, violence and persecution. But on this night horror becomes a symbol of resilience, inspiration a

Rematriation differs from the more widely known concept of repatriation. Where repatriation often focuses on the legal return of colonial objects, rematriation emphasizes the restoration of relationships, knowledge systems, and ritual care practices. These ideas strongly resonate with the concept of spiritual reparations, a term developed within The Museum of Black Futures by visual artist Femi Dawkins.

During this evening filled with performance and conversation, we have transformed Theater aan de Rijn into our museum for the night. Our theme? Returning to the Sacred Mother. Together, we explored how we can reverse the Door of No Return — through exhibitions, artworks, and museum practices that help us imagine new futures. A form of reparations that goes beyond financial compensation, one in which we ourselves are in charge.