OvaMbanderus request return of long-lost belt
A delegation that visited Germany last week identified the belt of the late Chief Kahimemua Nguvauva in a museum.
OGONE TLHAGE
WINDHOEK
The Ovambanderu Traditional Authority (OvTA) has requested the Stadtische Museum of Braunschweig to return the belt of late Chief Kahimemua Nguvauva after a delegation positively identified it. The belt had been carried by German officer Gustav Voigts, who disarmed Nguvauva.
It also called on joint collaborative efforts towards building harmonious relations between Braunschweig and the OvTA.
The traditional authority had travelled to Germany last week on a fact-finding mission to identify Nguvauva’s belt. After positively identifying it, the traditional authority is now requesting its return.
“We humbly request hereby the city council of Braunschweig and the Stadtische Museum of Braunschweig to resolve soonest the release of the belt of Kahimemua Nguvauva and to hand the same to the Namibian government through the embassy of Namibia based in Berlin, Germany, for its final repatriation back home to the OvTA and the Nguvauva clan,” a statement read.
The OvTA said the belt should be kept in a local museum for future generations to view it at home, 125 years after it had been taken.
Twinning arrangement
The traditional authority further asked that a twinning arrangement be made between Braunschweig and the OvaMbanderus for socio-economic development and collaboration.
“The same intervention could be considered in Namibia for the name of the city of Braunschweig to receive prominence and be promoted for the promotion of good relations between our two peoples.
“The Braunschweig city council could consider sponsoring a kindergarten or a library or at the OvTA headquarters that will be renamed after Braunschweig,” it said.
OvTA representative Ueriurika Nguvauva earlier this week positively identified the belt, saying: “The cartridge appears to be an original hand-made product used by our people at the time. They are also similar to the ones used by the Nama people. Also, a certain thorn from the ‘Ondjete’ tree could have been used to punch holes through the leather.”
WINDHOEK
The Ovambanderu Traditional Authority (OvTA) has requested the Stadtische Museum of Braunschweig to return the belt of late Chief Kahimemua Nguvauva after a delegation positively identified it. The belt had been carried by German officer Gustav Voigts, who disarmed Nguvauva.
It also called on joint collaborative efforts towards building harmonious relations between Braunschweig and the OvTA.
The traditional authority had travelled to Germany last week on a fact-finding mission to identify Nguvauva’s belt. After positively identifying it, the traditional authority is now requesting its return.
“We humbly request hereby the city council of Braunschweig and the Stadtische Museum of Braunschweig to resolve soonest the release of the belt of Kahimemua Nguvauva and to hand the same to the Namibian government through the embassy of Namibia based in Berlin, Germany, for its final repatriation back home to the OvTA and the Nguvauva clan,” a statement read.
The OvTA said the belt should be kept in a local museum for future generations to view it at home, 125 years after it had been taken.
Twinning arrangement
The traditional authority further asked that a twinning arrangement be made between Braunschweig and the OvaMbanderus for socio-economic development and collaboration.
“The same intervention could be considered in Namibia for the name of the city of Braunschweig to receive prominence and be promoted for the promotion of good relations between our two peoples.
“The Braunschweig city council could consider sponsoring a kindergarten or a library or at the OvTA headquarters that will be renamed after Braunschweig,” it said.
OvTA representative Ueriurika Nguvauva earlier this week positively identified the belt, saying: “The cartridge appears to be an original hand-made product used by our people at the time. They are also similar to the ones used by the Nama people. Also, a certain thorn from the ‘Ondjete’ tree could have been used to punch holes through the leather.”
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