Genocide injustice lingers on, experts say
Unequal land ownership a massive problem
Are Namibians willing to accept Germany's apology while land still remains in private hands, academic Henning Melber questioned.
Jemima Beukes
WINDHOEK
Speakers in Germany last week said the Nama and Ovaherero genocide is anything but postcolonial, with affected communities still living the horrid realities of what the German colonial forces committed.
During a discussion about a book titled ‘Colonial Past - Postcolonial Future?’, organised by the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation in Germany, Professor Henning Melber said despite Namibia and modern-day Germany’s contemporary relations, the repercussions of the genocide remain real.
“Unequal land distribution and private ownership is not colonial past but a present situation facing [affected communities] daily. Postcolonialism is an absolute myth and is [Germany’s] way of defending its position and to denigrate anyone with a different opinion.
“I am very concerned about the debate and what is happening in Germany. At least we have achieved something. The white supremacists, the old white men, are threatened, otherwise they would not be so aggressive. It is wonderful to have them threatened,” he said.
Melber added that there is an urgent need to confront and understand the genocide matter and how to redress the past, highlighting that the German government’s reconciliation agreement states “Germany deeply bows to the affected community and asks for forgiveness”.
However, according to him, the question is: Are Namibians willing to accept this apology as long as land still remains in private hands?
Cannot be undone
“If we are serious about reconciliation, we have to acknowledge the injustice caused, which is the first step to undo it. What happened in German South West Africa cannot be undone. There is this inequality we still have and land is the prominent example. This means we have to contribute materially to recuse that kind of injustice,” he said.
Meanwhile, the supposed superiority of German-born Namibians as well as Germans in Germany remains a thorny issue, author Uazuvara Ewald Katjivena said.
He was raised by his grandmother after he witnessed – at age 11 - the slaying of his parents by German soldiers.
“I was supposed to stay in Swakopmund with my family for the holidays and when I sent the mail, I was told the place was full, so I told my Norwegian wife to send an email and immediately we had a place to stay. These are the children of the Germans who killed my people. I am discriminated against in my own country.
“I just get arrogance from Germans in Namibia and in Germany.”
Skewed history
Rakkel Andreas, a local social commentator, said the history around the Nama and Ovaherero genocide is skewed and unfortunately dictated by what is put up by those in charge.
She, too, pointed out the antagonistic attitude of Germans towards locals despite the loaded and complex history, which includes rape of local women by German colonial soldiers.
“If you go to Swakopmund, the buildings are there – it is like a little Bavaria and some establishments there do not allow Namibians to enter while priority is given to German-speaking Namibians.
“Now you find a person in the street who cannot explain why they have green eyes and a fair skin, but if you trace their ancestry, you find that an ancestor was raped. Are they German-Namibians or are they Ovaherero or Nama? This is a very loaded issue and you need emotional intelligence to deal with it,” Andreas said.
According to her, remembrance - including installing a day for commemoration of the genocide - is important for nation-building.
“The challenge is that Namibia’s memory is dictated by what is put on the stage and, to date, we do not have a date for the genocide, but we have a Heroes Day celebrating those of the liberation struggle. But before that, another struggle took place and it is not recognised.”
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
Speakers in Germany last week said the Nama and Ovaherero genocide is anything but postcolonial, with affected communities still living the horrid realities of what the German colonial forces committed.
During a discussion about a book titled ‘Colonial Past - Postcolonial Future?’, organised by the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation in Germany, Professor Henning Melber said despite Namibia and modern-day Germany’s contemporary relations, the repercussions of the genocide remain real.
“Unequal land distribution and private ownership is not colonial past but a present situation facing [affected communities] daily. Postcolonialism is an absolute myth and is [Germany’s] way of defending its position and to denigrate anyone with a different opinion.
“I am very concerned about the debate and what is happening in Germany. At least we have achieved something. The white supremacists, the old white men, are threatened, otherwise they would not be so aggressive. It is wonderful to have them threatened,” he said.
Melber added that there is an urgent need to confront and understand the genocide matter and how to redress the past, highlighting that the German government’s reconciliation agreement states “Germany deeply bows to the affected community and asks for forgiveness”.
However, according to him, the question is: Are Namibians willing to accept this apology as long as land still remains in private hands?
Cannot be undone
“If we are serious about reconciliation, we have to acknowledge the injustice caused, which is the first step to undo it. What happened in German South West Africa cannot be undone. There is this inequality we still have and land is the prominent example. This means we have to contribute materially to recuse that kind of injustice,” he said.
Meanwhile, the supposed superiority of German-born Namibians as well as Germans in Germany remains a thorny issue, author Uazuvara Ewald Katjivena said.
He was raised by his grandmother after he witnessed – at age 11 - the slaying of his parents by German soldiers.
“I was supposed to stay in Swakopmund with my family for the holidays and when I sent the mail, I was told the place was full, so I told my Norwegian wife to send an email and immediately we had a place to stay. These are the children of the Germans who killed my people. I am discriminated against in my own country.
“I just get arrogance from Germans in Namibia and in Germany.”
Skewed history
Rakkel Andreas, a local social commentator, said the history around the Nama and Ovaherero genocide is skewed and unfortunately dictated by what is put up by those in charge.
She, too, pointed out the antagonistic attitude of Germans towards locals despite the loaded and complex history, which includes rape of local women by German colonial soldiers.
“If you go to Swakopmund, the buildings are there – it is like a little Bavaria and some establishments there do not allow Namibians to enter while priority is given to German-speaking Namibians.
“Now you find a person in the street who cannot explain why they have green eyes and a fair skin, but if you trace their ancestry, you find that an ancestor was raped. Are they German-Namibians or are they Ovaherero or Nama? This is a very loaded issue and you need emotional intelligence to deal with it,” Andreas said.
According to her, remembrance - including installing a day for commemoration of the genocide - is important for nation-building.
“The challenge is that Namibia’s memory is dictated by what is put on the stage and, to date, we do not have a date for the genocide, but we have a Heroes Day celebrating those of the liberation struggle. But before that, another struggle took place and it is not recognised.”
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