Namibians from all occupations at the weekend bade farewell to veteran broadcaster and historian Alexander Jarimbovandu Kaputu who was laid to rest on Saturday near Ovitoto in the Otjozondjupa region.
President Hage Geingob and his predecessors Sam Nujoma and Hifikepunye Pohamba also sent messages of condolences during the official memorial service held on Friday at farm Ombakaha in the Otjinene constituency of Omaheke region.
Kaputu, a veteran broadcaster and historian of exceptional quality labelled as a ‘book of wisdom’, was laid to rest at farm Ozondeombo near Ovitoto next to his grandmother on Saturday. His funeral was attended by a large number of relatives, admirers, politicians, traditional leaders, governors, journalists and representatives of civil society. Kaputu who was lovingly called ‘Tjikuume Ua Mbakaha’ by his admirers was born in 1952, Windhoek in the Khomas region. Kaputu died a fortnight ago at Otjinene aged 69. He was conferred the honour of an official funeral by President Hage Geingob.
“There is a date and time destined for all of us to leave this world and our Dr Kaputu faced this fate with the same poise and strength that inspired him to become a voice of the community throughout his stellar career,” Geingob said in his message read on his behalf by Omaheke governor Pio Nganate. “The broadcasting community and the nation at large are still coming to terms with the loss of an inspirational son of the soil, Dr Jarimbovandu Alexander Theophelus Kaputu.”
He added that Kaputu’s outstanding documentation of the history and traditions of the Ovaherero must be lauded and recognised because his life’s work has contributed to enriching the narrative of the people of Namibia.
In a message delivered on his behalf by Otjozondjupa governor James Uerikua, Nujoma said: “Even as we are consumed with grief, we celebrate a life of a distinguished Namibian broadcaster and historian who had specialised in the history of the Ovaherero people and contributed to oral history and literature in Namibia as well as the preservation of the Otjiherero language with his lively oratory skills.”
On his part, Pohamba, whose message was read by presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari, eulogized Kaputu as a dedicated public voice and distinguished historian who has contributed significantly through the preservation of the history of Namibia.
“He was affectionately valued for his oral historian skills, which led to the University of Namibia recognising his contribution and conferred on him an honorary doctorate in literature. His valuable contribution to Namibia, especially Ovaherero narrative, was important for nationhood building and self-regard,” said Pohamba.