Bondelswarts celebrate their rich history

A MEMORIAL stone in honour of the late Jacob Marengo, the leader of the Bondelswarts clan of the Nama people, was unveiled on Saturday at the Commonwealth cemetery at Warmbad.

Hundreds of descendants of Marengo and the late Bondelswarts Captain Jan Abraham Christiaan gathered for the unveiling ceremony, which coincided with the day on which the Bondelswarts pay tribute their fallen heroes. The inscription on the memorial reads: “In living memory of the late Commandant Jacob Marengo and others whose commitment to freedom, self-governance, sovereignty and resistance to foreign rule will be remembered forever by the Namibian Nation.Marengo was killed on the 20th of September 1907 near Eenzaamheid about 100 kilometres north of Upington by the British troops.”Names of other Bondelswarts leaders and a rifle resembling the .303 rifle used during the German colonial battles feature on the dark-grey granite stone on which a sculpture depicting the face of Marengo is mounted.Officiating at the ceremony, President Hifikepunye Pohamba said Marengo’s bravery and dedication should inspire the Bondelswarts community and the Namibian nation at large to work hard for the development of the country.He praised the fallen Bondelswarts leaders for the tireless perseverance under difficult conditions they showed in resistance against subjugation of their people under German colonial rule.”I am deeply touched by the narratives that depict the collective memory of the illustrious history of the Bondelswarts community and that of its leaders,” said Pohamba.He encouraged communities across the country to practise their cultures and traditions, adding that this will instil values and respect, hard work and discipline among the younger generation.”A strong foundation and value system that gives youth confidence and a high self-esteem is essential.They must grow up being proud of their heritage,” Pohamba remarked.Pohamba further noted that the country needs a skilled population to tackle the poverty engulfing communities nationwide.Against this background, Pohamba urged youth to take their education seriously.In his message, the Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Willem Konjore, who is a great-grandson of Marengo, said although the people of southern Namibia had not physically fought during the pre-independence liberation war, they need “psychological rehabilitation” because they were subjected to psychological oppression.”The southerners have lost their self-esteem because of psychological oppression, therefore a psychological treatment is needed for the southerners to enable them to participate in the country’s economy,” he said.The inscription on the memorial reads: “In living memory of the late Commandant Jacob Marengo and others whose commitment to freedom, self-governance, sovereignty and resistance to foreign rule will be remembered forever by the Namibian Nation.Marengo was killed on the 20th of September 1907 near Eenzaamheid about 100 kilometres north of Upington by the British troops.”Names of other Bondelswarts leaders and a rifle resembling the .303 rifle used during the German colonial battles feature on the dark-grey granite stone on which a sculpture depicting the face of Marengo is mounted.Officiating at the ceremony, President Hifikepunye Pohamba said Marengo’s bravery and dedication should inspire the Bondelswarts community and the Namibian nation at large to work hard for the development of the country.He praised the fallen Bondelswarts leaders for the tireless perseverance under difficult conditions they showed in resistance against subjugation of their people under German colonial rule.”I am deeply touched by the narratives that depict the collective memory of the illustrious history of the Bondelswarts community and that of its leaders,” said Pohamba.He encouraged communities across the country to practise their cultures and traditions, adding that this will instil values and respect, hard work and discipline among the younger generation.”A strong foundation and value system that gives youth confidence and a high self-esteem is essential.They must grow up being proud of their heritage,” Pohamba remarked.Pohamba further noted that the country needs a skilled population to tackle the poverty engulfing communities nationwide.Against this background, Pohamba urged youth to take their education seriously.In his message, the Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Willem Konjore, who is a great-grandson of Marengo, said although the people of southern Namibia had not physically fought during the pre-independence liberation war, they need “psychological rehabilitation” because they were subjected to psychological oppression.”The southerners have lost their self-esteem because of psychological oppression, therefore a psychological treatment is needed for the southerners to enable them to participate in the country’s economy,” he said.