‘Waterberg To Waterberg: In the Footsteps of Samuel Maharero’

AN alluring quote by King John Bart Agami is compared with an Ovaherero proverb stating that ‘a tree will rise if the deepest root is not cut’.

This quote embodies the struggle that the Herero people had to endure under the leadership of Samuel Maharero, whose footsteps are mirrored in this one-hour documentary directed and scripted by Andrew Botelle and co-narrated by Esi Schimming-Chase.

Maharero’s journey starts in the Namibian Waterberg Mountains to the Waterberg in South Africa and back home. From Epala Valley to Serowe in Botswana where Maharero’s sons are buried, Maharero left a heavy presence in the hearts of many and this impact is demonstrated through the strong voices of the townsfolk.

Introducing local actors to mimic the past actions of our forefathers, Botelle does a beautiful job by capturing the emotional aspect of each scene in stimulating re-enactments.

One such scene involves a mother and her child who attempt to escape an unknown pursuer. Because of the harrowing circumstances, the mother is forced to abandon her flesh and blood in a desolate, shaded area of the savannah to fend for herself. This was the severity of the history that took place before our time – sacrifices that Herero men and women were forced to make for survival, abandoning their homes and spreading out far and wide to start over with a new life.

As much as history has painted a dark picture of the Germans, records prove that some were sympathetic to the plight of Herero children, but the kind act is quickly distorted by how the ‘weak’ were gathered and brutally murdered.

According to Maharero’s death certificate signed on 14 March 1923 by Dr A Worral, Maharero died in Serowe from exhaustion and heart failure but his remains were brought back to Namibia.

“He had many other complications but the main cause of death was malignant growth,” the daunting document states. A few original details about Maharero’s death are revealed in the documentary, a must-see for those eager to open their eyes to a new reality. The textbook version of Maharero’s journey is brief and undetailed, but perhaps this will shed light on the actuality of events.

Carefully put together by the Namibia Film Commission (NFC) and MaMoKoBo Video and Research, Botelle confirmed that negotiations are in progress for ‘Waterberg To Waterberg: In The Footsteps of Samuel Maharero’ to be on Botswana Television (BTV) and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

“The proudest moment was twofold. One was to be chosen as one of the few filmmakers to be awarded a grant to make this film and two, to have so many different types of people – Namibians and foreigners – say they thought the film was really good, well-researched and an amazing, true African story,” Botelle said.

The DVD is available at the NFC for N$200.

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