Cape Town Activists Observe Namibia’s First Genocide Remembrance Day

CAPE TOWN – A group of activists gathered outside the German consulate in Cape Town on Monday to mark Namibia’s first official Genocide Commemoration Day, dedicated to honouring the victims of the Nama-Herero genocide committed by Germany between 1904 and 1908.

The event, attended by nearly 80 people, was a powerful expression of solidarity with Namibians, particularly the descendants of the Nama and Herero peoples who suffered devastating atrocities at the hands of German colonial forces. Organizers and participants alike used the moment not only to reflect on the past but also to demand accountability and justice from the German government—justice they believe remains incomplete.

The genocide, which occurred in what was then known as German South-West Africa (modern-day Namibia), is widely considered one of the first genocides of the 20th century. German colonial troops carried out systematic massacres, land dispossession, and the forced displacement of tens of thousands of Nama and Herero people. Victims were driven into the desert to die of starvation and thirst, while others were placed in concentration camps, where many succumbed to forced labour, disease, and mistreatment.

Abeedah Adams, representing the South African Energy Embargo Campaign, addressed the crowd with a message underscoring the enduring impact of these colonial crimes. “Today we are here to commemorate the genocide that Germany perpetrated against the Namibian people,” she said. “We are also here to register our opposition to Germany’s continued complicity. By refusing full reparations and justice, Germany continues to play a role in the ongoing legacy of this genocide.

Cape Town Activists Commemorate Victims of Nama-Herero Genocide

In 2021, after prolonged negotiations, Germany officially acknowledged its role in the genocide and committed to funding development projects in Namibia to the tune of €1.1 billion (approximately R22 billion) over a 30-year period. This funding, according to the German government, was intended as a gesture of reconciliation. However, many Namibians and human rights advocates argue that the offer does not meet the standard of full reparations. Critics say it lacks the direct compensation and legal recognition that the descendants of victims have been demanding for decades.

Many also point to the language used by Germany in its acknowledgment. Although it recognized the atrocities as genocide “from today’s perspective,” it stopped short of offering reparations in the legal sense, a distinction that has angered survivors and community leaders. They contend that Germany is attempting to sidestep historical responsibility by framing its financial pledge as development aid rather than as redress for crimes against humanity.

At the Cape Town demonstration, activists called for several key actions: a full and unequivocal apology issued at an international level; direct reparations paid to the descendants of the victims; and the repatriation of human remains and cultural artefacts taken during the colonial era, many of which remain in German museums and institutions.

“Symbolic gestures are not enough,” said another participant at the rally. “We cannot accept development funding disguised as reparations. True justice requires Germany to acknowledge the human cost of its colonial history and act accordingly.”

The inaugural Genocide Commemoration Day in Namibia represents more than just a remembrance of past atrocities. It is a rallying point for ongoing demands for justice and a renewed push for global recognition of colonial crimes. The event in Cape Town served as a mirror to these efforts, showing that solidarity across borders is key in the fight against historical amnesia and denial.

This commemoration also aligns with a broader continental and global movement seeking to hold former colonial powers accountable. In recent years, African countries have increasingly demanded the return of looted heritage, restitution for historical injustices, and the rewriting of colonial narratives that have long silenced the voices of the oppressed.

For many at the Cape Town gathering, the struggle is not only about historical recognition but also about shaping a more just future. They argue that confronting the past with honesty and integrity is essential for healing and reconciliation—not only in Namibia but across the African continent.

As the event came to a close in Cape Town, chants, songs, and placards carried one unified message: memory must lead to action. The legacy of colonial violence can no longer be ignored or treated as a distant chapter of history. Justice, reparations, and dignity for the victims of the Nama-Herero genocide remain a living demand.