Bethanie
The Minister of Education, Arts and Culture, Katrina Hanse-Himarwa does not believe that indigenous cultures and
traditions are outdated and hold back progress in nation-building and thus should be forgotten to make way for new ways of life. Hanse-Himarwa was one of many speakers at a cultural festival in Bethanie, which brought together descendants of the victims of Imperial Germany’s genocidal war against indigenous Namibians from 1896 to 1904 and 1908.
Hundreds of the descendants of the anti-colonial warriors of those years, converged here from last Thursday to Sunday from different corners of Namibia, as well as from neighbouring Botswana and South Africa for a cultural
jamboree punctuated with speeches by various leaders, predominantly traditional leaders from the three
countries.
Most of the speeches spoke of the need for unity among the people, who share a common history by virtue of their near annihilation by Imperial Germany. “For too long a time our people have been divided by the colonial regimes. Evidence has shown that even families were thrown into different countries and, therefore, the unity shown
here during this festival brings much jubilation to my heart,” the minister said, encapsulating the aura of camaraderie and unity that characterised the festival. She added that the colonisers never thought the people would be united one day, “but your being here today is a clear testimony that where there is a will, there certainly is a way.”
Contrary to the idea that indigenous cultures and traditions are archaic, Hanse-Himarwa said the people were a living example of their cultures and traditions.
“Our cultures helped us to develop and moulded our attitudes and characters to be productive, useful, purposeful and progressive citizens. It is thus imperative that our children are taught the importance of upholding cultural norms and values.”
Hanse-Himarwa cautioned against the possibility of cultures becoming extinct if the need to preserve them is not taken seriously: “Our culture is important for the future of our children and our nation, because culture ensures a
history, a past, present and certainly a future. It is thus paramount to hand down such an important birthright and inheritance to an informed and prepared generation.
The future of our culture lies in the hands of our children. They will carry our identity.” Since Namibia’s independence, the descendants of the victims of Imperial Germany’s wars in then German South West Africa (today
Namibia) have been visiting their relatives in Botswana and South Africa to rekindle the memory of the
sacrifices of their forebears during those wars, and to help fellows in those countries regain their culture,
foremost their languages. In this regard they have been to places, such as Tsau in Botswana, Lephalale in the Limpopo Province in South Africa, Tlakameng in the Vryburg District of the North West Province of South Africa.
The “march” on Tlakameng in 2013 is widely seen as a watershed moment, if only for its emotionality. One cannot but recall the emotive and heartfelt statement of Reverend Rupert Hambira, a Batswana of Namibian-Ovaherero
descent. “You know I finished primary school and secondary school without ever thinking that Namibia
was on the continent of Africa. We were told it is a place so far that we will never reach there again. But
now I am happy that we are here, and I am sitting here on the podium with my chief, my own paramount
chief. Close, very close to the paramount chief and it is the very first time that I am sitting in a tent with my own
paramount chief. Nothing can be better and if I die today, I will go straight to heaven.”
Hambira proposed that the next gathering be in Botswana, especially in the village of Omauaneno in the Tsabong district, which is inhabited by many people of Namibian descent in their various cultural inclinations, Ovaherero, Nama Ovambanderu.
It was in Omauaneno that !Aman Chief Dawid Frederick last year had personally offered to host a similar gathering in Bethanie, the seat of the Soromaas Traditional Authority, this year.