Echoes of the Past | Transcultural Narratives  : Ssempijja Robert’s Research Journey

In 2023, Ssempijja Robert was invited to participate as a researcher in the Transcultural Academy “Zukünftigkeiten/Futurities” at the Japanische Palais, hosted by the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden (SKD/State Art Collections) in Germany. His research, centered on the enduring impact of colonialism on Ugandan cultural objects, explores how colonial histories have shaped perceptions of artifacts that were once integral to everyday life in Uganda. During this ongoing project, rooted in both archival research and creative practice, Ssempijja also visited the University of Cambridge’s main library and the archives of the Centre of African Studies at Cambridge, to continue to deepen his inquiry.

At the heart of Ssempijja’s work is a conviction that his generation bears a responsibility to bridge the fragmented past with the digital present. For centuries, the histories and stories surrounding African artifacts, including those from Uganda, have largely been written by external observers often colonial actors whose narratives have overshadowed the voices of the communities from which these objects originate. Ssempijja seeks to reclaim and reframe these narratives, emphasizing the importance of African communities documenting their own histories and perspectives. His project, Recoding the Influence of Colonialism through African Art Objects, aims to regenerate these stories in the words of the communities themselves, fostering new perspectives on African history and its potential futures.

The colonial era saw countless Ugandan artifacts and objects enter Western collections through processes of looting and cultural appropriation. This systematic plundering stripped these items of their original cultural, spiritual, and historical contexts, leaving behind fragmented and often distorted understandings of the diverse cultures and tribes from which they came. Many of the objects housed in museum collections, such as those at the SKD, were not mere relics but functional, everyday items deeply embedded in the social, economic, and cultural fabric of their societies. In pre-colonial Uganda, various clans specialized in crafting specific objects, contributing to a sophisticated system of trade and cultural exchange within and between ethnic groups. These objects were not only utilitarian but also carried profound symbolic and communal significance, a context often lost in their museum displays.

During his time at the Transcultural Academy, Ssempijja presented a performance piece titled Twaliwo, inspired by objects in the SKD’s collection. This performance wove together artistic expression and critical reflection, offering a dynamic reinterpretation of the artifacts’ cultural significance. Alongside the performance, he authored a paper for the SKD, articulating his findings and proposing ways to engage with and recontextualize these collections. This work is part of a broader, evolving project that seeks to challenge colonial legacies in museum practices and advocate for more inclusive, community-driven approaches to cultural heritage.

Currently, Twaliwo is undergoing further development in collaboration with company Christopher Winkler This partnership aims to expand the performance into a larger interdisciplinary work that blends movement, storytelling, and historical inquiry to further illuminate the stories embedded in African artifacts. Through this collaboration, Ssempijja continues to explore innovative ways to reconnect these objects with their cultural roots and amplify African voices in global conversations about heritage and futurity.

Ssempijja’s research and creative practice stand as a call to action: to rewrite African histories from the perspective of their rightful narrators, to honor the complexity of their cultural contexts, and to imagine new possibilities for a decolonized future.