Building (b)ridges beyond the Portrait – Mapping Memories of Kwasi Boachi – Exit Frame!

The following essayistic synthesis takes two portraits of Ashanti Prince Kwasi Boachi (1827–1904) as an opportunity to explore the life and work of this Black nobleman. The focus is particularly on Boachi's contributions to memory culture, which are recognized here as part of a "royal narrative." From his privileged social position, he not only contributes to the representation of the Asante Kingdom within Europe in various ways but also presents his experiences and views, such as on the subject of the slave trade. Through his writings and activities, it becomes evident how the legacy of the Asante Kingdom is reflected upon and honored in a European context, thus creating a bridge between African and European memory cultures. In this way, Boachi can be considered a central figure in memory culture and the Black German Archive. By following Boachi's work, this study can also exemplify the possibility of transcontinental memory work, promoting approaches that view historical events from multiple perspectives and in terms of their interconnections and interactions