Namibia Commemorates First National Day of Remembrance for Colonial Genocide

For the first time, Namibia will observe a national day of remembrance to commemorate the genocide inflicted upon the Ovaherero and Nama people by German colonizers from 1904 to 1908, marking a significant step in the country’s healing journey.

Namibia is set to observe its inaugural Genocide Remembrance Day on May 28, a date chosen to align with the announcement by German officials in 1907 to close concentration camps, drawing attention to the systematic murder of over 70,000 Africans. This genocide, which occurred nearly 40 years before the Holocaust, predominantly targeted the Ovaherero and Nama communities for resisting colonial land and cattle seizures.

The new national holiday follows longstanding advocacy for reparations from Germany, which, in a 2021 agreement, offered €1.1 billion in development aid but avoided direct acknowledgment of reparations or compensation. Namibia rejected this offer, citing the lack of a formal apology and adequate reparations, reflecting the ongoing tension between the two nations.

Community leaders, descendants of the genocide victims, express skepticism towards the commemoration and recent agreements, demanding more substantial actions such as the return of ancestral lands currently held by German nationals. Historians like Martha Akawa-Shikufa recount the atrocities committed under extermination orders and the grim conditions in concentration camps where many died from enforced labor.

Despite Germany’s formal recognition of its colonial genocide, the reparative measures proposed continue to face criticism, with many Namibians characterizing them as insufficient. Activists assert that while a national day of remembrance serves as a symbolic gesture, true restorative justice remains elusive, as the community strives for more comprehensive reparations and acknowledgment of their historical trauma.

As Namibia marks this pivotal day, the discourse surrounding colonial accountability and reparations continues to evolve, highlighting the complexities of healing historical wounds and achieving justice for the oppressed.