A groundbreaking international exhibition titled “There Was Something Here Before” by acclaimed South African urbanist Zahira Asmal will open in Colombo on July 18, casting a fresh spotlight on the overlooked colonial connections between Cape Town and Colombo.
Hosted at the Clock Tower Building, Independence Arcade (1st Floor, Colombo 7), the exhibition will run until July 27 and is free to the public daily from 10 a.m. onwards. Supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Sri Lanka, the project delves into the intertwined colonial legacies of both cities, formerly under Dutch rule.
Through detailed research, Asmal traces the journeys of enslaved individuals brought from Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) to Cape Town, revealing surprising cultural and historical echoes, including the roots of South Africa’s famed wine farms.
“This is the first time an exhibition of this nature is being held in Sri Lanka,” stated a release from the Dutch Embassy. “The forgotten memory shared by these cities is brought to life through Asmal’s compelling narrative and interactive storytelling.”
The exhibition is part of a larger cultural initiative featuring ten public events, including walkabouts, panel discussions, workshops, and film screenings—all designed in collaboration with Sri Lankan scholars and activists. The goal is to deepen public understanding of Sri Lanka’s layered colonial past and to promote dialogue around shared histories.
Zahira Asmal, founder of The City, a place-making and urban research agency in South Africa, brings her expertise in urban transformation and memory-making to the Sri Lankan context. Her work continues to advocate for more inclusive, historically aware urban spaces.
Those interested in curated group tours may contact Menaka Rajapakse at +94 77 876 0871. Event updates and registration details can be accessed via Facebook and Instagram under @thecityagency, tagged “There Was Something Here Before – I SEE YOU.”
This exhibition promises not just a historical retelling, but a reawakening of memory, identity, and belonging across continents.
