Commemoration in Bremen: Historical responsibility for the genocide in Namibia

Commemoration in Bremen: Historical responsibility for the genocide in Namibia

On August 11, 2025, the anniversary of the Battle of Ohamakari and the memory of the victims of the genocide in Namibia were celebrated in Bremen. The setting for the moving event was the anti-colonial monument in Nelson Mandela Park. Mayor Björn Fecker as well as Namibian artists and experts came together to remember this dark episode in history and to talk about the importance of the culture of remembrance. Fecker emphasized that the injustice suffered by the Herero, Nama, Damara and San must not be forgotten. He highlighted the historical responsibility we all have to face to learn from the past, as Natascha Kitavi, a Namibian singer and actress, underlined in her moving words.

The event was moderated by Virginie Kamché from the Bremen Africa Network and organized by various institutions, including the Bremen State Center for Civic Education and the Bremen Senate. Like Prof. Dr. As Manfred Hinz from the Bremen Africa Archive noted, full clarification and a reconciliation agreement between Namibia and Germany are still pending.

A dark chapter in history

Germany's colonial past in Namibia stretches from 1884 to 1915, a time marked by the most brutal military violence against the local population. Particularly alarming was the war of annihilation against the Herero and Nama between 1904 and 1908, which was launched by an infamous “extermination order” from Lieutenant General Lothar von Trotha. It is estimated that up to 100,000 people died during this time - around 80% of the Herero and around half of the Nama. The genocide is considered the first of the 20th century and has far-reaching consequences for the affected communities and their descendants.

After the First World War, the colonies, including “German South West Africa,” lost their sovereignty and Namibia finally gained independence in 1990. For decades, Germany did not recognize what had happened to the Herero and Nama. Since reunification, the relationship between Germany and Namibia has gradually improved, but the discussion about reparations and compensation remains complex. The first official discussions about compensation began in 2015, and the debate over these issues also brought many legal issues to the table, such as the classification of the killings as genocide.

On the way to redemption

In June 2021, the German and Namibian governments published a joint statement on addressing German colonial crimes, which is seen as progress in negotiations on reparations. Germany has now recognized the genocide and promised 1.1 billion euros as part of a development and reconstruction program. However, this agreement was met with clear criticism, particularly from Herero and Nama, who feel that German politics does not sufficiently take it into account.

The challenge now is to find a path that both recognizes the historical injustice and respects the realities of today. The question of how legal responsibility is dealt with plays a central role. The critical approaches to colonial crimes and responsibility under international law require comprehensive reflection on the imperialist perspective and the need to integrate the perspectives of the peoples affected.

The memorial event in Bremen once again showed that dealing with history is a continuous process that must be anchored not only at the national level, but also in the heart of society. There is still a long way to go to heal the wounds of the past and shape a just future.

Further information on these topics can be found in the detailed reports on the website of Bremen Senate Press Office, bpb.de and Goethe.de read up.