A decade on: remembering Henrike Grohs at Goethe-Institut Johannesburg

Grohs, who was serving as director of the Goethe-Institut in Abidjan at the time of her death, had previously spent four years in Johannesburg leading culture and development initiatives. Those who gathered at the memorial reflected on a legacy that continues to shape the city’s cultural landscape.

Representatives from organisations she helped establish or support, including Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF), Drama for Life, Wide Angle, IKS Cultural Consulting, and The Bioscope Independent Cinema, shared personal accounts of her influence.

Her legacy is underestimated

MIAF executive director Eddie Hatitye described Grohs as instrumental in shaping the early vision of pan-African music portal Music In Africa.

“She inspired us by her big vision of a unified network… and how institutions can collaborate with artists and government,” he said.

Hatitye believes her impact is often overlooked. “I often say that her legacy is underestimated, especially given what she achieved in a short space of time.”

Reflecting on her leadership style, he added: “She embodied the idea of giving people the tools and systems they need… she inspired us in many ways.”

Henrike was instrumental in the formation of the Music In Africa project in 2011. She later served on the MIAF Board for two years until 2015 when she stepped down to focus on her responsibilities as director of the Goethe-Institut in Abidjan.

She was the fulcrum

Photographer and collaborator David Andrew recalled Grohs as central to the Wide Angle: Photography as Participatory Practice project.

“Henrike was an extraordinary person, extraordinary leader and extraordinary driver of projects,” he said. “She was someone who really understood what it meant to bring people together to create knowledge together.”

He described her as the force behind its cohesion. “She was the fulcrum, that person that held things together.”

Benjamin Bergner,  Head of Cultural Programmes at Goethe-Institut South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa emphasised her deep engagement with local culture.

“You can’t measure how important she is,” he said. “Whenever she went, she would engage with artists, musicians and performers. She really went out there to understand the cultural life people were living.”

For Music In Africa’s French editor, Patricia Yumba Muzinga, Grohs played a pivotal role in in the journey of the MIAF .

“Henrike was very instrumental in building Music In Africa,” she said. “From one workshop you could see she was passionate about the African music industry.”

Bioscope Independent Cinema founder Russell Grant credited Grohs with helping transform The Bioscope from a temporary initiative into a permanent cinema.

“I credit Henrike for getting The Bioscope started, she played a critical role that we all still  appreciate deeply” he said, adding that her influence lives on through the institutions she helped build.

Investing in people

Drama for Life director Warren Nebe highlighted Groh’s commitment to individual’s, particularly students.

“She played a critical role in the lives of individual people,” he said. “She knew who the students were and made sure they had scholarships… She really cared very deeply.”

Many of those students have since progressed to leadership roles within the arts.

In 2018, the Henrike Grohs Art Award was established in Abidjan to support emerging African artists, extending her commitment to nurturing creative talent.

Ten years after her death, Grohs’s influence remains visible across Johannesburg’s cultural institutions and networks. The memorial served not only as a tribute, but as a reminder of a vision rooted in collaboration, cultural exchange and long-term impact, principles that continue to shape the arts sector in South Africa and beyond.