By Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro VAALGRAS The Vaalgras community is planning to commemorate the centenary of the death of erstwhile warrior in the resistance of German colonialism, Jacob Marengo (Marenga) on September 20 this year. Vaalgras traditional leader, Chief Joel Stephanus (Tjikuirire), made the announcement on Sunday during the 112th anniversary of the return of his people and settlement in Vaalgras after crossing the Orange River, escaping the onslaught of the Ovaherero and Nama internecine wars. Marengo is said to have died on September 20, 1907 in the Battle of Eenzaamheid. As has become tradition over years, hundreds of members of the Vaalgras community as well as members of the Green, Red and White flags converged here over the weekend to pay homage to the founding mothers and fathers of the Vaalgras community as well as heroes and heroines who played their part in the war of resistance against German colonialism. And once again this year, the event proved a hotchpotch of various cultures marked by paramilitary drills and battle cries in the mould of the Ovaherero war chants masterminded by the Red Flag commando of Mariental. The official opening proved a spectacle of its own, with the hoisting of the Namibian and AU flags, followed by the three traditional flags, the black with white spots of the Vaalgras community, red flag and the Ovambanderu green, white and black hoisted to the singing first of the National Anthem and the folks anthem of the Vaalgras community. Guards on horseback were on full alert. Following the official opening, the stage was now set for dancing. The traditional ‘langarm’ dance of the Vaalgras community was provided live by a group from Mariental. The drill guard on Sunday was again spot on with their drilling parade and war chants paving the way for the arrival of Chief Joel Stephanus (Tjikuirire) and his council. Once again, the horse riders had formed their parade circling the commemoration venue to set the scene to the hoisting of the various flags and the singing of the anthem. After the opening, the crowd moved to the graveyard to pay homage to the leaders of the Vaalgras community, among them Elias Stephanus (Tjikuirire) who died in 1902 and his successor, Jan Appolus, who died in 1955. The fallen leaders were given a three-gun salute with the horse riders galloping their horses around the graveyard resembling warriors engaged in battle. The crowd then went to the place where erstwhile Nama leader, Captain Hendrik Witbooi, great grandfather to the current traditional leader of the Witboois with the same name. Vaalgras is also known as Witbooi Se Einde, meaning as the place where he met his end. In his speech, Chief Stephanus especially appealed to the descendants of the Vaalgras community not only to attend the festivities but also to contribute duly to its realization. He said their ancestors worked hard to realize the heritage they have bequeathed them. Honouring and paying tribute to a day like this, as well as preserving this heritage, is thus the fitting tribute they could pay to their ancestors. He appealed to them to emulate the hard work of their ancestors as they embark on the struggle for economic survival, especially for Vaalgras. Director of ceremonies of the festivities, Willem Konjore, emphasized the need to pay tribute to all heroes and heroines of the resistance and liberation struggle, starting with Marengo and Abraham Morris to the Ruhumbas, Katzaos from Vaalgras and beyond all over Namibia. Marengo, of Nama and Ovaherero descent, played a leading role in the resistance of the Bondelswarts against German colonialism between the years 1903 and 1904. Deploying hit-and-run tactics, he proved slippery to both the British and German forces. He was such a formidable warrior in the fight against colonial forces that the German authorities in South-West Africa – as Namibia was then known – and the British authorities decided to collaborate in their hunt for him. A price of 20ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 000 German Marks was put on his head.