SOUTH African National Heritage Day, celebrated last weekend in South Africa, had a special meaning and relevance not only for South Africans but more so South Africans of Namibian descent. Batswana of Namibian descent and othe Namibians joined the occasion.
While South Africans in general, especially in the North West Province of South Africa had the advantage of learning the history of their fellows of Namibian descent, especially the Ovaherero, Ovambanderu and Namas, these descendants, besides retracing their history and their cultural roots, the cultural re-union was graced by the presence of Namibian traditional leaders.
Ovaherero Paramount Chief Kuaima Riruako, Ovambanderu Paramount Chief, Aletha Konduaa Nguvauva, and Chief Raphael Kapia from Omaruru, led a small but culturally formidable entourage, which during the sojourn in the town of Vryburg, and the village of Thlakameng, was the centre of attention due to the signature dress of green, red and white flags.
The town and village exploded into crescendos and spectres of battle cries. The joy of Namibians in the Botswana and South African Diaspora, and as much their fellows from Namibia obviously sharing in it, was written all over the faces of many of them for all and sundry to see, and nothing could ably and aptly encapsulate such elation than the expression by one descendant after the other that this was indeed a day mirabillis, if not a year mirabillus for them if not for all.
Though there was not much cultural extravaganza, something the descendants from Botswana and South Africa have been yearning and craving for, for years, and could have been the best their brethren and sisters from Namibia could have taken along with them, seeing their fellows from home in their traditional attire and experiencing the spectres of battle cries that went along with the attire seemed just enough for the Namibian descendants.
Above all seeing their own leaders, shaking hands and sharing the tent shelter with them, was for many of these Ovaherero, Ovambanderu and Nama in the Diaspora, a dream come true.
As one Batswana of Namibian descent, Reverend Rupert Hambira put it, they have only been hearing about Namibia which during their school days they were made to believe was far away, not to be reached ever.
But now that this day dawned, and that he was sharing the podium with his “own leaders”, “he shall be going straight to Heaven” speaks volume of the longing of Namibia, if not for long lost relatives by people of Namibian descent in the Botswana and South African Diaspora.
It was obvious that this was a moment that many had been craving for, hoping for, praying for, looking forward to and, indeed been quietly dying for. And when it eventually dawned, it was obvious that its eventual dawn was intrinsic in itself, and worth more than material cravings that many of us desire.
Out in their hundreds they turned up for the occasion from as far as Botswana, Lephalela in the Limpopo Province and Gauteng.
But predominantly they emerged from different directions and destinations of the North West Province itself, the former North Cape Province, which for many South Africans of Namibian descent has become a home away from home.
This is since the difficult but unforgettable days of the Genocide of their forebears at the hands of henchmen and women of Imperial Germany.
There they converged, long lost cousins, to reminisce about their common past, rediscover their cultural roots and to eventually map the way forward, not only in terms of an everlasting and meaningful cultural renaissance but socio-economic reconstruction as well.
That is why when the Namibian descendants of the victims of the wars of resistance against Imperial Germany, converge on the Ozombuzovindimba this weekend for the 109th commemoration of the extermination orders against the Ovaherero and Nama, they should indeed not only have fond memories of their fallen heroes and heroines of the wars of resistance against Imperial Germany, but have fresh memories of their kinspeople in the Botswana and South African Diaspora, and the North West Province of South Africa from where they emerged last weekend.
The visit last weekend to the North West Province was more than just an observation of National Heritage Day. It was to rekindle the spirit of a people who for long have been searching and questing for their lost culture, if not their lost souls. This could not have been done in a weekend but a long journey lies ahead if these people have to meaningfully resuscitate their languages, revive their cultures, rediscover self and reconstruct self socio-economically.
This seems a journey they embarked upon a long time ago but that has seemed hilly, bumpy, potholed if not rocky, gravelled and muddy and slippery.
But with the event last weekend, and visit by traditional leaders from Namibia, this road all of a sudden seems accessible.
In the words of Reverend Hambira, this road that they have been made to believe was inaccessible, and Namibia was far away never to be reached, is now becoming passable, and Namibia no longer remote but reachable.
But on this occasion when the country, and the Genocide fraternity, is today also commemorating the second anniversary since the return of the first 20 skulls from Germany, the dream of Namibian descendants in the Botswana and South African Diaspora can only become a reality if their leaders do not lull into their usual lull but embrace the quest of their people in the Diaspora purposefully, and with consequent resolute and actions.
If not, surely the spirit of the ancestors,that 109 years after Genocide are crying for redemption, shall continue to hunt them!
By Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro