Ovambanderu Traditional Authority councillor Tutu Muundjua has praised the community history day conducted at Gobabis in the Omaheke region last weekend as a “great success.”
A large number of the Ovambanderu community flocked to the Nossobville Community Hall to listen to community historians narrating history, dating back to the 18th century.
“We have embarked on the project of collecting the Ovambanderu history and the translations thereof. As you know, the Ovambanderu tribe immigrated into current Namibia from Lake Tanganyika.
This is just some of the history we are seeking to collect, and in this regard, the Gobabis meeting was a great success “ Muundjua told New Era yesterday.
The meeting also drew in 100-year-old Jesaja Katjivikua, who recounted the community’s history following the 1904 genocide, including the community’s exodus to Epukiro under late chief Nicanor Hoveka’s leadership, and some to Aminius under the leadership of the late Ovaherero paramount chief Hosea Kutako.
Acting OTA chief Gerson Katjirua narrated the history of the community under the leadership of the late chief Munjuku Nguvauva II and his role in the liberation struggle of Namibia, while the return from Botswana and the coronation of chief Munjuku Nguvauva II was narrated by senior traditional councillor Ripuree Tjozongoro.
Meanwhile, a delegation of the Ovambanderu councillors recently travelled to Braunschweig, Germany to identify a belt confiscated from the renowned late Ovambanderu chief Kahimemua Hija-Kungairi Nguvauva before his execution by the imperial Germans in 1896.
Kahimemua, well-known as ‘Omuhatamunua’ by the younger generation, was the chief of the Ovambanderu community between 1850 and 1896.
In May 1896 in Otjunda, chief Kahimemua was wounded, and later surrendered to the German colonial soldiers. Accused of organising the uprising against the Germans, he was sentenced to death and executed on 12 June 1896, together with Nikondemus Kavikunua in Okahandja. Kahimemua was shot 11 times all over his body, but did not succumb to all those bullets. He only died after he pointed out to his executors the chief only dies when he is shot through the forehead – and the 12th bullet was fired.
Ueriurika Nguvauva, who led the delegation to Germany, told the media upon his return late last year that they were fully convinced that the cartridge belt kept in a Braunschweig museum was indeed that of the late Kahimemua.
He said one of the key features on the belt is that it is similar to that of former Ovambanderu warrior Apona Kanguatjivi.