Orlams gather to honour their heroes

CLOSE to 1 000 people gathered at Vaalgras at the weekend to pay tribute to the fallen leaders and ancestors of the Nama-Herero community as well as to revive their lost cultural heritage.

This year’s celebration by the Orlams marked 100 years since the genocide commemoration of 1904. The occasion was attended by the Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing, Joel Kaapanda, and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Willem Konjore.Traditional Herero drills on horseback and cultural performances formed part of the day’s proceedings at the Vaalgras festival.The Vaalgras group, who fled Namibia during the war with German forces, under the command of General Von Trotha, crossed back over the Orange River in 1895 and temporarily settled at the southern village of Warmbad.On the advice of Captain Christiaans, of the Bondelswarts clan at Warmbad, the Vaalgras group appointed Elifas Stephanus Tjikuirire as their headman.He helped them to move to Vaalgras, about 80 km north-east of Tses and 50 km off the Windhoek-Keetmanshoop main road.Kaapanda paid tribute to the Nama-speaking Herero people for overcoming the hardship and oppression they endured at the hands of the Germans and encouraged the youth to respect their traditions and cultures.He said Government had recognised the Vaalgras traditional authority and would provide money for the construction of their office and a community hall in the next budget.The event ended with a three gun salute to honour the fallen heroes of the Vaalgras community.The occasion was attended by the Minister of Regional and Local Government and Housing, Joel Kaapanda, and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Willem Konjore.Traditional Herero drills on horseback and cultural performances formed part of the day’s proceedings at the Vaalgras festival.The Vaalgras group, who fled Namibia during the war with German forces, under the command of General Von Trotha, crossed back over the Orange River in 1895 and temporarily settled at the southern village of Warmbad.On the advice of Captain Christiaans, of the Bondelswarts clan at Warmbad, the Vaalgras group appointed Elifas Stephanus Tjikuirire as their headman.He helped them to move to Vaalgras, about 80 km north-east of Tses and 50 km off the Windhoek-Keetmanshoop main road.Kaapanda paid tribute to the Nama-speaking Herero people for overcoming the hardship and oppression they endured at the hands of the Germans and encouraged the youth to respect their traditions and cultures.He said Government had recognised the Vaalgras traditional authority and would provide money for the construction of their office and a community hall in the next budget.The event ended with a three gun salute to honour the fallen heroes of the Vaalgras community.