Patience Makwele
Young Namibians have been urged to learn, protect and retell the country’s history as Namibia marked its second Genocide Remembrance Day on Thursday.
Speaking during the national commemoration held in Eenhana in the Ohangwena region, vice president Lucia Witbooi said the day should serve as an educational platform for young people to understand the history of the 1904–1908 genocide committed against the Ovaherero and Nama people during German colonial rule.
“To our youth, Genocide Remembrance Day must serve as an important educational platform through which they can learn about Namibia’s painful history,” Witbooi said.
She said the resistance of Namibian forebears against colonial oppression laid the foundation for the country’s freedom and independence.
“Their pain became our purpose. Their resistance became our foundation. Their sacrifice became the freedom of the Republic of Namibia,” she said.
Witbooi urged young Namibians to take ownership of the country’s future through education, innovation and economic empowerment while rejecting tribalism, division and hatred.
Witbooi also encouraged continued academic research, documentation and publication on the genocide, warning that history risks being forgotten if it is not properly recorded and preserved.
“The stories, testimonies and historical realities of the 1904–1908 genocide must continue to find expression through books, archives, universities, museums, films and scholarly work,” she said.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah also called on Namibians to preserve and document the country’s history, saying future generations must continue learning about the sacrifices made during the genocide.
“We must tell our own stories, document our experiences, and ensure that future generations never lose sight of the suffering, resilience, and sacrifice of those who came before us,” the President said in her Genocide Remembrance Day message.
The commemoration sparked conversations among young people about identity, historical truth and the importance of preserving Namibia’s heritage in a changing digital world.
Alinautoni Ndeunyema, a student at the University of Namibia (Unam) and youth activist, said many young Namibians still know little about the genocide beyond what is briefly taught in classrooms.
“A lot of young people only hear about the genocide during national events, but they don’t fully understand how deeply it shaped Namibia,” she said.
“If we do not learn our history properly, we risk becoming disconnected from our identity, our culture and our communities.”
Ndeunyema said remembrance should not only happen during annual commemorations.
“We need more documentaries, youth discussions, exhibitions and even social media content that speaks our language and helps young people engage with history in a way they understand,” she said.
Across social media platforms on Thursday, young Namibians shared old photographs, historical facts and messages calling for unity, justice and cultural preservation. Many said remembrance must move beyond ceremonies and become part of everyday conversations among young people.
For 21-year-old student Esther Uatjike Uahengo, the commemoration served as a reminder that many young people enjoy freedom without fully understanding the sacrifices behind it.
“Sometimes we celebrate freedom without understanding the blood behind it. Learning about the genocide makes me realise that history is not distant. It lives in our families, our languages and our communities,” she said.
Witbooi said local creatives, filmmakers, writers, musicians, poets and storytellers have a responsibility to preserve and amplify Namibia’s stories.
“As Namibians, we must continue to tell our own stories through our own voices and lived experiences,” she said.
Creative arts student Tuhafeni Kamati said young creatives are increasingly using digital storytelling, photography, film and journalism to reconnect young people with conversations around identity and historical justice.
“History is no longer only preserved in textbooks. Young filmmakers, photographers, journalists and artists are helping shape how future generations will understand Namibia,” he said.
Kamati said many young creatives are now pushing to tell Namibian stories that were ignored or silenced for years. He also warned about the misuse of artificial intelligence and online platforms to sensationalise the history behind the genocide for online attention.
“I find it very disturbing how people online are using genocide to gain views. It is a very important day which tells the painful story of what our people went through, but you find some YouTubers and TikTok content creators who have never set foot in Namibia or spoken to affected communities interpreting it for views and followers,” he said.
“The people we remember today died for this country in a very gruesome way; therefore, their stories need to be told in a truthful and dignified manner,” he added.
