The diverse ways to manage, study and safeguard non-European collections from formerly colonized territories with more inclusive and decolonized approaches was at the forefront of discussion during the 1st TRANSMAT-IN2PAST International Meeting: ‘Documenting Non-European Collections’. The event, funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, took place at the National Museum of Ethnology, in Lisbon, on June 22^nd and 23^rd, 2023.

Directors of several museums and other Portuguese institutions (National Museum of Natural History and Science of the University of Lisbon, Santos Rocha Municipal Museum, National Museum of Archaeology, Academy of Sciences of Lisbon, Lisbon Geography Society, Museum of Natural History and Science of the University of Porto, as well as researchers and museum professionals, discussed and reflected on the treatment of the aforementioned heritage, constituted in historically sensitive contexts of domination and power imbalance.

Seeking more plural and diversified perspectives on these collections, the meeting featured examples of ongoing projects and policies adopted by European museums (Museum für Naturkunde – Berlin or Africa Museum – Belgium), and included contributions from professionals from the Global South, such as Loyiso Maqwabe Gumede, curator of the South African Luthuli Museum, as well as the participation of media professionals, such as Christiana Martins from the Expresso newspaper.

Videos of the meeting were made available here by the National Museum of Ethnology.

First published here.