The Damara Genocide

PLEASE ALLOW ME to explain the concerns and reservations the Damara people have regarding the 1904 to 1908 genocide.

There is ample historical evidence that the Damara people were highly affected by this genocide.

It is pathetic that the Namas, Hereros, the German government and the Namibian government are ignoring this historical reality.

In fact, the systematic extermination of the Damaras dates as far back as the 19th century when the Germans invaded Namibia – then German South West Africa.

The Germans, while invading our territory, clashed with the Damara and San people, the original inhabitants of vast geographical areas of South West Africa.

Unfortunately this historical fact is not captured in all modern written history, but some oral and written history accounts are proof of this.

The Damara people, unfortunately and regrettably, have been let down by the lack of proactiveness on the part of the Damara traditional leadership when talks on the genocide were initiated.

This has led to the non-recognition of the Damara people. It is highly illogical for anyone to state that the Damaras, could not have been affected by the genocide.

Some serious questions and factors need to be examined and explored to substantiate our position, obviously to the discomfort of some ill-informed, fake historians.

The historical truth is that 65 000 to 80 000 Hereros, which involved about 80% of them, more than 17 000 Damaras (about 57%) and 10 000 Namas, which was about 51%, were killed.

In addition, a substantial number of San people were also killed.

The German government has acknowledged that indeed the Damara and San communities were also massacred as indicated in their declaration.

It is our stance that the killing of 57% of Damaras over a period of four years was no massacre, but an act of genocide.

It is, however, regrettable that the Namibian government and the negotiation team has to this date failed to correct the false narrative that the 1904 to 1908 genocide was committed only against the Nama and Herero people.

This genocide was also systematic and intentionally targeted against the Damara and San communities. The killing of 57% of the Damara population was no coincidence.

In conclusion, we emphasise that we do not seek any confrontation or conflict with anyone.

The only intent of the Damaras is to get justice and have our dignity restored after the genodice on our people.

In no way should our pursuit for justice be seen as a threat to diminish the heinous crime of genocide equally committed against our fellow countrymen, the San, Namas and Hereros.

In our struggle for justice and dignity, some progressive-thinking Namas and Hereros have expressed their full support and sympathy with our just cause.

Archillaus Namaseb, chairperson Genoland Steering Community

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