Heather Erdmann
REHOBOTH — The 111th Sam !Khubis commemoration opened in Rehoboth last Thursday with solemn rituals, prayer and reflection as community members marked one of the most significant dates on their cultural calendar.
Day one concluded with the Gelofte Diens (Vow Service) at the Hermanus van Wyk Gedenksaal (community hall), followed by a church service at Paulus Lutheran Congregational Church, drawing elders, church leaders and community members into a moment of remembrance shaped by faith, history and identity.
The programme began with the lowering of the Mourning Flag (Rou Vlag), the raising of the Namibian and Rehoboth Baster flags, and the lighting of the ceremonial torch (Die Vakkel). The recitation of the Gelofte (The Vow) followed before the community gathered at the Old Kapteinsboom, a symbolic site of remembrance, ahead of departure for the Sam !Khubis terrain, about 80 kilometres south of Rehoboth.
The commemoration marks the 1915 Battle of Sam !Khubis, where the Rehoboth Baster community resisted German colonial forces. The event remains a defining moment of survival, faith and identity, observed annually as part of the community’s living history.
From early morning, Rehoboth carried a quieter, more reflective atmosphere as elders, church leaders and families moved through spaces tied to collective memory and ancestral sacrifice.
Mayor calls for unity and shared responsibility
Rehoboth mayor Jackie ‡Khariseb described the gathering as a moment of reflection and renewal, calling for unity between traditional leadership, local government and regional structures.
He said the commemoration carries both historical meaning and present-day responsibility, urging leaders to work together to improve development in Rehoboth.
“This is a sacred gathering, a moment of deep reflection and renewal,” he said.
‡Khariseb added that cooperation among leadership structures is key to strengthening service delivery and ensuring that Rehoboth’s development priorities are addressed.
Importance of tradition
Minister of Urban and Rural Development James Sankwasa said traditional leadership remains central to identity, cohesion and stability within communities.
He said the absence of a Kaptein for years had left the community without direction, adding that the reinstatement of leadership marks an important restoration of cultural structure.
“Custom serves as the cement that keeps all the loose ends of stories together,” he said.
Sankwasa urged that cultural traditions be preserved and passed on to younger generations, warning that communities risk losing cohesion without them.
Renewal and historical continuity
Kaptein Herbert George “Jacky” Britz, the eighth Kaptein of the Rehoboth Baster Gemeente, described the commemoration as a symbol of renewal and a “new beginning”, linking the number eight to 8 May and what he called “a new dawn” for his community.
He thanked government leaders for strengthening relations with the Rehoboth Baster community, including the return of the Kaptein’s official residence at Kaptein Hans Diergaardt’s residence, as well as broader recognition of traditional leadership structures.
Britz also reflected on reconciliation efforts dating back to former president Sam Nujoma’s visit to Sam !Khubis in 1993 during the 78th anniversary, which he said marked one of the early steps in formal post-independence engagement with the community.
He said that the visit signalled the beginning of a longer process of dialogue and recognition that continues to shape relations today.
Unity in diversity
Delivering the keynote message on behalf of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Vice President Lucia Witbooi said Sam !Khubis forms part of Namibia’s shared historical consciousness and must be understood within the country’s broader nation-building journey.
She said Namibia’s strength lies in its diversity, urging communities to continue engaging with one another’s histories.
“One of the greatest strengths of our country is our diversity,” she said. Witbooi cautioned that misunderstandings between communities often grow when people remain distant from each other’s historical experiences.
Sam !Khubis terrain
Following the Rehoboth programme, community members departed for the Sam !Khubis terrain, about 80 kilometres south of the town, where commemorations continued with the second day of ceremonies.
The annual gathering remains one of the most significant cultural events for the Rehoboth Baster community, marking the 1915 battle as a moment of remembrance, survival and identity. At Sam !Khubis, memory remains alive, carried forward as faith, identity and history continue to meet in one place. – herdmann@nepc.com
Photo: Heather Erdmann