Okahandja: The Ovambanderu community will convene in Okahandja this weekend to commemorate the 130th anniversary of the execution of Chief Kahimemua 'Hijakungairi' Nguvauva.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the event is hosted by the Ovambanderu Traditional Authority (OTA) under the theme 'Beyond 1896: The Legacy of Kahimemua Nguvauva and Early Anti-Colonial Resistance.' It aims to honor the life and sacrifice of Chief Nguvauva, a key figure in Namibia's early anti-colonial resistance alongside fellow leader Nikodemus Kavikunua. Both leaders were executed by a German colonial firing squad on June 11, 1896, for opposing German colonial encroachment.
The secretary of the OTA's supreme council, Urioukuao Kaaheke, confirmed the event and stated that the anniversary serves as a reminder of the courageous acts that defined the early struggle for independence. "The commemoration this weekend invites all stakeholders to reflect on our past and educate younger generations about our identity. We aim to share insights into our culture and traditions while motivating youth to preserve them," Kaaheke stated.
Kaaheke emphasized that the event is not solely about remembering Chief Nguvauva's death but also about celebrating his unwavering principles. "We will honor other leaders interred alongside Nguvauva, including Munjuku Nguvauva II, former acting chief Peter Kati Nguvauva, and Chief Kilus Munjuku Nguvauva III, among others," he added.
He noted that a variety of cultural activities are planned for the weekend, including community members paying respects at the gravesite, ancestral invocations, horse riding, troop drills, and traditional praise songs. "Discussions will also focus on the importance of preserving oral histories, allowing the current generation to reconnect with the history of the 1896 uprisings," he said.
Nguvauva opposed German colonial expansion and led an armed uprising against German forces. After surrendering following the Battle of Sturmfeld in 1896, he was executed in Okahandja. To this day, Nguvauva is celebrated for his strong anti-colonial resistance, with his gravesite recognized as a national monument.