NAMIBIA: Germany Returns Skulls Of Massacred Namibians

In what historians call the first genocide of the 20th century, soldiers of German Kaiser Wilhelm slaughtered some 65,000 Herero and 10,000 Nama tribespeople in a 1904-08 campaign after a revolt against land seizures by German colonists.

At Wednesday’s ceremony, a Namibian delegation received the skulls and bones from German Foreign Ministry representatives.

They will be taken to the Namibian capital Windhoek on Aug. 31 where rituals will be carried out.

Today, we want to do what should have been done many years ago to give back to their descendents the remains of people who became victims of the first genocide of the 20th century, said Petra Bosse-Huber, a German Protestant bishop.

Namibian Education Minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa said last week that the government would create a group to decide whether to bury or display the repatriated skulls that had been kept in German museums.

Germany has acknowledged moral responsibility for the killings but to avoid compensation claims, has avoided making an official apology for the massacres.

Esther Utjiua Muinjangue, chairwoman of the Ovaherero Genocide Foundation, said the handover ceremony would have been the perfect opportunity for Germany to officially apologise.

Is that asking too much? I don’t think so, she saidin Berlin earlier this week.

Ignored for decades, Germany’s colonial history is drawing increasing attention. A couple of years ago, the German Historical Museum curated a big exhibition on the subject.

Germany, which lost all its colonial territories after World War One, was the third biggest colonial power after Britain and France, which lost theirs after World War Two.

During its 1904-08 campaign in what was then German South West Africa, the German Reich sent reinforcements to put down an uprising by tribes people over their expulsion from their land and recruitment into forced labour.

The Hereros had killed 123 German traders, settlers and soldiers.

In addition to the slaughter, thousands of Hereros were driven into the desert and died of thirst and starvation, and the rest were sent to concentration camps.

Legal representatives for the Herero and Nama people have brought a lawsuit against Germany in New York over genocide and property seizure carried out by German colonists.

The German government has entered negotiations with the Namibian government over possible reparations for the genocide but the lawsuit argues that Germany violated international law on the rights of indigenous peoples.


Tourism Observer

NAMIBIA: Okahandja

Okahandja is a city of 24,100 inhabitants in Otjozondjupa Region, central Namibia, and the district capital of the Okahandja electoral constituency.

It is known as the Garden Town of Namibia. It is located 70 km north of Windhoek on the B1 road. It was founded around 1800, by two local groups, the Herero and the Nama.

Okahandja means the place where two rivers flow into each other to form one wide one in Otjiherero.

A German pastor, Heinrich Schmelen, became the first European to visit the town in 1827.

In 1844, two missionaries were permanently assigned to the town, and a church dates from this period. A military post was established in Okahandja in 1894, and it is this date that is officially recognized as the town's founding.

Maharero and his sons, Jan Jonker Afrikaner, Hosea Kutako and Clemens Kapuuo are buried in the town.

Okahandja's population is growing rapidly. It stood at just over 14,000 as measured by the 2001 Population and Housing Census, and is estimated to have surpassed 24,000 in 2012.

Von Bach Dam is situated outside of Okahandja. It provides the majority of Windhoek's water. An open-air curio market attracts tourists, and the town serves as the administrative centre for the Herero people.

Directly north of Windhoek (70km) lies the industrial town of Okahandja, known as the 'Garden Town of Namibia'. Several major companies are based here and it is fast becoming a Windhoek 'sleeper' town', and not just because of it's excellent infrastructure.

Many travellers find Okahandja just the place to take a break on their travels through the country, especially if they don't find the need to go on to the capital city. One of the towns lesser-known claims to fame is that it has no traffic lights!!!

The word, 'Okahandja' is derived from Otjiherero (a local tribal language) and means 'The place where two rivers flow into each other to form one wide one.' (Or a 'short broad river.') These two rivers are the Okakango and the Okamita, which flow only the during the summer season and are dry throughout most of the year.

The weather in Okahandja is mild during the winter months and rarely goes below 0°C. But during the summer months, (from September to March) when it is relatively hot, temperatures of up to 45°C during midday are not uncommon.

Okahandja is rich in history and it revolves mostly around the Herero and Nama tribal people. Chiefs Tjamuaha and Kahitjene came to Okahandja in 1800 to establish themselves here.

Chief Tjamuaha was the father of Chief Maherero, who was known to be the great leader of the Herero people. In 1827 the first white person, Heinrich Schmelen a German pastor, came to Okahandja and called the place 'Schmelenverwachtung'.

The Rhenish Mission sent two missionaries, Hugo Hahn and Heinrich Kleinschmidt to Okahandja in 1844 to do church work.

All went peacefully in Okahandja until the 23rd of August 1850, when the 'Bloodbath of Okahandja' took place between the Nama and Herero speaking people.

Today the site where this historic battle took place in known as 'Moordkoppie' and is situated behind the town's school next to the Windhoek - Karibib main road.

Jonker Afrikaner moved to Okahandja in 1854, where he later died. Chief Tjamuaha also died in the same year but had previously advised his son, Maherero, that he should stand up against the Nama-speaking people and overpower them. This was to be the beginning of a 7 year war.

True to his great leadership, Chief Maherero, conquered the Nama people and they in turn turned to the Germans for protection. On the 12th of January 1904, the Herero speaking people rebelled against the German occupation, but were chased off into the Kaiserkop area, East of Okahandja.

In 1870 the first school was established by Reinish missionaries. Many other businesses flourished in Okahandja, including Wecke & Voigts which was establish in 1892.

Unfortunately the original building burnt down, and has been replaced with a smaller shop which is situated on the original site on the corner of Bahnhof Strasse and Voortrekker road.

On 25 June, 1894 Lentwein established a military station in Okahandja, this date was later regarded as the date on which Okahandja was officially established.

Soon afterwards in 1895 the first postal services at Okahandja were established, with camels being used to transport the mail. The first post office at Okahandja was established in 1896, and still stands in the main street.

Due to the historical fact that two Herero Chiefs, Kahimunua and Nikodemus, were shot by the Germans in Gobabis and were buried at the Bantu Kirche, off Martin Nieb street, every year towards the end of August, the people of Okahandja remember them, on what is now called Maherero Day.

Thousands of Hereros come to Okahandja to pay tribute to their fallen heroes. They make a grand procession of brightly coloured traditional dresses, military outfits and prancing horses. They proceed along a route which starts at the grave sites and moves on to a site on the other side of the main Windhoek road, where a great tribal banquet and celebration is held.

Tourists are always made to feel most welcome at this important event.

Okahandja holds a quaint atmosphere stooped in history and tradition. There are many historical sites to visit and a large variety of birds to view.

It is crammed with many small businesses including supermarkets, banks, (with 24hr ATM services) 2 pharmacy's, hardware and clothing stores, vehicle and tyre repair facilities, a launderette and dry cleaners, hairdressers, stationary shops, shoe shops, a photo developer, computer and Internet shop, hotels & other accommodation establishments, doctor's rooms and a hospital, bakeries, numerous restaurants and a sports bar, to mention a few. There are the larger industrial businesses too, and 4 (24hr) petrol stations, 3 of which have take-away meals.

Just 25km from Okahandja, is the Gross Barmen Hot Springs Resort, where the main attraction is (not surprisingly) it's hot spring water.

There is an (hot water spring) inside swimming pool, open-air swimming pool, restaurant, filling station, shop, and self-catering bungalows, making this a popular tourist attraction and is worth the visit.

Another popular resort - the Von Bach Dam - where water sports, angling and bird-watching are favourite pastimes with locals and visitors alike.

The town of Okahandja has several accommodation establishments ranging from guest houses to hotels, while the surrounding area has several excellent lodges.

The town is also an important centre for woodcarvers from the north, who sell their carvings at the craft markets on a co-operative basis, next to the main road at both entrances to Okahandja.

This is a good place to pick up that special souvenir or gift to take home.