Namibia is set to honor its historical trauma for the first time, marking a pivotal moment with a newly established Genocide Remembrance Day. This occasion will take place each year on May 28, a date significant for historical events in 1907 related to the genocide perpetrated by German colonial forces. This genocide, referred to by some as "Germany's forgotten genocide," resulted in the systematic slaughter of over 70,000 Africans, primarily from the Ovaherero and Nama communities, between 1904 and 1908.
The atrocities included the use of concentration camps and cruel experiments that predated similar actions during the Holocaust. As the Namibian government describes it, the day aims to be a step forward in the nation’s "journey of healing" and will include a minute of silence and candlelight vigils, particularly in the capital city of Windhoek.
The remembrance comes amidst discussions about reparations from Germany, which formally recognized its colonial atrocities four years ago and proposed €1.1 billion in developmental aid, but did not include reparations in legal terms. This was met with disappointment from many Namibians, including leaders from the Ovaherero community, who dismissed the aid as insufficient and demanded acknowledgment and land restitution instead.
Historians have noted the complex dynamics of colonialism and reparations, pointing out that before the genocide, Germany had demanded reparations from the Ovaherero and Nama for their resistance, a historical irony that still affects current discussions.
Many victims’ descendants remain skeptical about the reparative measures being taken by the German government. There are calls for the return of ancestral lands currently in German hands, emphasizing that these actions are integral to achieving true justice. Activists assert that while the remembrance day is significant, real restorative justice remains a distant objective in the ongoing struggle for acknowledgment of the genocide and the return of lost heritage.
