By Surihe Gaomas WINDHOEK Over 500 guests from all over Namibia and neighbouring South Africa will be converging on LÃÆ’Æ‘Æ‘ÃÆ”šÃ‚¼deritz in two weeks-time for the 103rd commemoration of the death of Chief Cornelius Frederick. The historic event, highly regarded by traditional authorities of the South, marks the 103rd-year commemoration of the late Chief Frederick who was killed by the colonial German forces in 1904. Captain Cornelius Frederick was the ‘war leader’ of the soldiers who fought against the colonial German troops during the Second World War in Bethanie District in 1904. During that war, the !Aman Clan were the victims of the massacre at Shark Island near LÃÆ’Æ‘Æ‘ÃÆ”šÃ‚¼deritz where the late Chief was cruelly beheaded by German soldiers on February 16, 1904. Hence, the Soromas Traditional Authority is hosting this annual event in LÃÆ’Æ‘Æ‘ÃÆ”šÃ‚¼deritz from February 16 to 17 in remembrance of the thousands of lives lost at Shark Island. Speaking to New Era yesterday, Chief David Frederick said the historic event carries with it immense sad memories for the descendants of the !Aman Clan, and for many other clans in the south. Thousands of lives were lost at Shark Island which was used as a concentration camp by the colonial German authorities. This memorial festival is therefore very close to our hearts as the blood that was shed in the war at the time runs through our veins today,” explained Chief Frederick as he elaborated more on the history. Most of the people imprisoned with the late Chief at the concentration camp on Shark Island died of food poisoning. Some were hanged and some were fed to the sharks. This was the same fate meted out to many other black Namibians who resisted and were overpowered by the German government of the time with its strong weapons and guns. “We are calling upon all community members who will be attending the event to dress in black and white as a symbol of grief and respect for the chief and the people who died during that period,” added Chief Frederick. Based on the preliminary programme, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Libertina Amathila will be the keynote speaker. Besides traditional dances and speeches, the guests will also be entertained by the occasional horse rides and lively cultural performances of the Nama-Stap. The commemoration will start off at Shark Island and end up at the burial site of the late Chief Frederick in LÃÆ’Æ‘Æ‘ÃÆ”šÃ‚¼deritz. A tombstone was officially laid there three years ago. Various traditional chiefs in the South are expected to visit the mass gravesite of human remains some 20 kilometres from LÃÆ’Æ‘Æ‘ÃÆ”šÃ‚¼deritz later that day.