Humboldt Forum

The Humboldt Forum in Berlin is a spectacular cultural center that opened digitally in December 2020 and physically on July 20, 2021. It is housed in a partial reconstruction of the former Prussian royal palace, combined with a modern interior. Inside are parts of the Ethnological Museum and the Museum of Asian Art, featuring extensive collections from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania. Long before its opening, intense debates arose, especially around colonial collections like the Benin Bronzes. Nigeria demanded their return, and critics pointed to insufficient provenance research.

Art historian Bénédicte Savoy resigned from the advisory board in 2017 in protest over the lack of transparency and engagement with colonial issues. Funding and symbolism also sparked controversy: some private donors were found to have ties to right-wing or fundamentalist groups. Criticism came from figures such as Jürgen Zimmerer, who described a nationalist-Christian geopolitical agenda behind parts of the building's decorative elements, including eight prophet statues and a cross on the dome. The foundation denied extremist influence; investigations found no evidence of right-wing or antisemitic positions.