Colonialism

#438

Abdelkader Statue in Amboise

France

By Contested Histories Initiative

Inspired by historian Benjamin Stora’s recommendations on French-Algerian reconciliation regarding their tumultuous shared colonial history, the Amboise town council, backed by the Elysée Palace, commissioned a sculpture to commemorate Emir Abdelkader, an anti-colonial fighter who was imprisoned in the city during the nineteenth century. He later moved to Syria, where… Read More

#356

Columbus Monuments in Mexico City

Mexico

By Contested Histories Initiative

Mexico City was the only city known to have two statues of Cristopher Columbus. Themonuments were both 19th-century statues placed within walking distance of each other – inPaseo de la Reforma and Calle Buenavista, in the heart of Mexico City. Given its visibility andposition in a heavily trafficked street, the… Read More

#313

Coronation Park in New Delhi

India

By Contested Histories Initiative

In the 1960s, two decades after India’s independence from colonial rule, certain sections ofthe society demanded the removal of specific memorial markers of the colonial past. Thincluded the statues in the Coronation Park in the capital of the country, New Delhi. TheCoronation Park harks back to the times of coronation… Read More

#252

Three Dikgosi Monument in Gaborone

Botswana

By Contested Histories Initiative

On September 29, 2005, a statue of three dikgosi (kings) who visited England in 1895 to protestagainst the imminent handover of their lands to the British South Africa Company was unveiledin Botswana’s capital city, Gaborone. The three dikgosi are seen as ‘Founders of the Nation’ andthe monument also tells the… Read More

#490

Martyrs of War Memorial in Algiers

Algeria

By Contested Histories Initiative

In 2020, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin sparked controversy during his visit to Algeria after posting a video on Twitter attending a memorial at the Monument of the Martyr (makam el-chahid) in Algiers. The monument was inaugurated in 1982 to mark the 20th anniversary of Algerian independence from France and… Read More

#35

Queen Victoria Statue in Hong Kong

China

By Contested Histories Initiative

The Statue of Queen Victoria, commissioned for her Golden Jubilee in 1887 and installed in Hong Kong in 1896, has been a prominent feature of Victoria Park since 1952. Initially symbolising British colonial legitimacy, it has become a complex symbol in post-colonial Hong Kong. While most locals view the statue… Read More

Francisco Pizarro Statue in Lima, Peru
#287

Pizarro: The ‘conquistador’ that still divides a city 490 years on

By Javier Lizarzaburu February 4, 2025

On January 18, Lima celebrated 490 years since its Spanish foundation, an anniversary that coincides with a dynamic phase of restoration in the historic centre. Yet, beneath the festivities lies a troubling reality. The city’s new right-wing administration has reintroduced the contested equestrian statue of its founder, Francisco Pizarro, to… Read More

#244

Mbuya Nehanda Statue in Harare

Zimbabwe

By Contested Histories Initiative

The legend around the figure of Nehanda Charwe Nyakasikana, popularly known as Mbuya Nehanda, an anti-colonial leader and spirit medium, revolves around the interplay between the Zimbabwean pre-colonial past and its neo-colonial present. The government initially proposed dedicating a statue to the woman in Harare’s capital city. However, as announced,… Read More

Prince Albert Statue in Dublin
#442

Prince Albert Statue in Dublin

Ireland

By Contested Histories Initiative November 2024

Unveiled in 1871, this statue commemorates Prince Albert – the husband and Prince Consort of Queen Victoria – in the grounds of Leinster House. The statue was moved to its current position in 1923, replaced by a Cenotaph memorial to Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins. In 2018, a petition submitted… Read More

Bright Bimpong Freedom Statue in Copenhagen
#510

Bright Bimpong Freedom Statue in Copenhagen

Denmark

By Contested Histories Initiative November, 2024

A copy of Bright Bimpong’s Freedom statue was gifted to Denmark by individuals from the Virgin Islands in 2017, to mark the 100th anniversary of Denmark selling the islands to the United States. In 2019, the statue was finally placed in front of Eigtveds Pakhus, a colonial-era warehouse, which is… Read More

The Sound of Freedom – The Role of Music in Political Change

By Serena Jampel

The project on Contested Histories primarily focuses on controversies over monuments, statues, street names, and other tangible representations of historical legacies. However, the project recognises that contested historical legacies can also include intangible heritage, such as music. In this blog post, Serena Jampel examines the role of music in political… Read More