C& On Rematriation and Spiritual Reparations (2026)

In 2025, while attending a conference at Haus der Kulturen der Welt, I encountered the term rematriation for the first time.

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. It creates a broader context for return, raising questions such as: who is truly responsible for this heritage, where does it feel at home, and what does it mean to care for an artefact?

These ideas strongly resonate with the concept of spiritual reparations, a term developed within The Museum of Black Futures by visual artist Femi Dawkins. Reparations, in this context, refers to forms of redress and repair for colonial harm. But spiritual reparations move beyond financial or legal frameworks, focusing instead on the restoration of emotional and spiritual balance.

With The Museum of Black Futures, I recently launched a first podcast episode in collaboration with the international platform for contemporary art Contemporary And (C&). In this conversation, Femi and I reflect on rematriation and spiritual reparations, and on the role the diaspora can play within these processes.

His reflections stayed with me. They also shifted my own thinking around responsibility, care, and the role of empathy within heritage practices.

Listen and read along: https://lnkd.in/eMvyTfpB

My sincere thanks to the editorial team at Contemporary And for their trust and collaboration. I hope that this connection between C& and Theater a/d Rijn contributes to a broader dialogue on how we can collectively work towards more just futures... within and beyond the field of heritage.