Ovaherero and Nama youth are taking the history and continuing the legacy of the 1904-1908 genocide to an international cultural exchange in Bern, Switzerland.
Among the participants is Landless People’s Movement member Joyce Muzengua, who is joining young people from different communities, including Palestinians, to discuss history, identity, peace and the effects of violence.
The exchange, organised by Service Civil International Switzerland from 2 to 9 October, promotes intercultural understanding, non-violence and sustainable development.
“For Ovaherero and Nama youth, the gathering provides an opportunity to place their history within broader international discussions on mass violence, dispossession, displacement and justice,” Muzengua says.
She says German colonial forces committed genocide against the Ovaherero and Nama people between 1904 and 1908.
Its consequences, including land dispossession, disrupted communities and severed ancestral ties, continue to shape descendants’ lives, while demands for recognition and reparations remain unresolved, she adds.
“The participation of Palestinian youth adds another perspective on violence and displacement, allowing participants to share experiences and discuss how communities preserve memory while seeking justice,” she says.
For the Ovaherero and Nama youth, she says the exchange is not simply about remembering the past, but ensuring their history remains part of international discussions on dignity, accountability, recognition and reparations.
