DEUTSCH SEIN UND SCHWARZ DAZU. ERINNERUNGEN EINES AFRO-DEUTSCHEN

Credits

Name: DEUTSCH SEIN UND SCHWARZ DAZU. ERINNERUNGEN EINES AFRO-DEUTSCHEN

Guest: Michael, Theodor Wonja

Abstract

In 2013, Theodor Wonja Michael wrote his biography, at the age of 89. In it, he describes how he survived as a black German in the Nazi era. Michael grew up with a foster family in impoverished circumstances and was forced to appear in the “human zoos” prevalent at the time. Later he appeared in the Nazis` colonial propaganda films. The biography covers this and also recounts problems encountered in the afterwar period, when black characters in German film were still played by white actors in blackface. Michael took on theatre roles and guest-starred in the title role of the play “Adam” in the Burkina Faso theatre festival, long before cooperation began between Cologne`s Theater im Bauturm and the Ouagadougou theatre scene.