Monument to namibia in Southern Africa bears these words to preserve the colony against the herero uprising with god for emperor and empire glory be to those who are loyal unto death. For 30 years the german colonial rulers governed over the peoples of namibia the shadow of this foreign rule is long and the stories are on forgotten. Did you ever hear the stories told by the elders of the village at the 5. Stories about the battles of the all of them by may. Cure owing stories from the war against colony and this. Being the onto of the systems once upon us. All. The art of resistance in the media march 2018 at the march of genocide in the movie and to recall the slaughter that the german colonial troops carried out against the ancestors of the how they dont and. They were colonial german Army Uniforms its a dark chapter in history that germany prefers to forget in namibia its a history that burdens people to this day. In. The picturesque town of swap more and maybe as atlantic coast. In front of the town hall stands the marine memorial which commemorates the german soldiers who brutally oppressed an uprising by the 100 people of namibia more than 100 years ago. And outreach to city councillor like me said copy introduced a motion for the monuments removal. Thats. Been destroyed it. Does me. In my motion i requested them to take it to them issued so that we can hear that for for this going to get independence so what we want. A group of activists recently splashed blood red paint on the memorial had it all and now more people have gathered for a protest. The statue is a disgrace a monument to colonial and racial oppression. Their way the german people are outraged. Thats their way that this. Nation because they dont recognize what they did and the still were having the blood of their blood. Namibias colonial past is more visible and more than anywhere else in the country. With its. Lifehouse in cafes the town is more reminiscent of a german seaside resort than a provincial capital in Southern Africa. The scenic spotless charm us walk up and trust throngs of tourists to this day the town is still dominated by whites about 2000 people live in the center of. Some of them are descendants of the 1st settlers who came here under german colonial rule. Just a few kilometers from the center of lies another world some 60000 people live in one day so many of them in poverty. Every day life here is shaped by unemployment there arent enough schools or job training opportunities much of the housing is of poor quality. People here struggle with an uncertain future. To the roots of this poverty law and it may be as colonial past. All of that where the isa we have the words and as percent of the demand. For the farms is in the hands of the german people that they did not buy for any single cent they store and. Some of them lend also the. Will to the best think in germany for lindy well i dont have a place to go to the grave. I mean that is 7 now as im talking. Where to this conflict over land began much of south western africa. In the 19th century the inhabitants were nomadic Cattle Breeders hunters and gatherers. The largest groups were the. They traveled the land in search of fertile soil and water. The lack of water was a shared problem there were no fixed borders the people lived according to the principle my land is where my cattle graze. But conflicts over grazing land and cattle theft were common. The land was too arid to support the ever larger herds. To the vast deserts to find the landscape the nominee and the color. In 829 the german relish missionary society sent its 1st missionaries. They took photographs and kept a diary which remains an important historical document. The germans founded missions they named battalion noise and vocal talk. To bring the light of civilization to the dark continent they said. Local people were deeply skeptical about the missionaries arrival. And about to get close but i could see them. To do just. Like this he does to go to so much. In the wake of the missionaries 2 the 1st colonial settlers began to arrive most of them from europe. They came in search of land and cattle and in their view the land was uninhabited. Increased competition over resources intensified local conflicts some of which erupted in violence the delicate balance had been disrupted. The white settlers deliberately fuelled these conflicts sometimes they sold weapons brandy and promises to one. Sometimes to another. The land they captured remains the cornerstone of white farmer holders in namibia to this day. Place the len going old country. And those of us whose parents have been driven away from their lent. Lend and other properties. Which today should have been a way inheritance. And whose due provision led to our people being plunged into generational poverty. For more than 100. 00 g. S. The conflict intensified when i took back all merchant from klayman arrived in namibia and 883. He helped to find Natural Resources such as copper and minerals which he planned to sell in europe at a great profit ringback. Ludovicus was a man of dubious reputation his tobacco plantations in mexico had failed as had his attempts to establish Business Operations in west africa now he had his sights set on the bay of picking that he began negotiations with the local nama people in their negotiations specified english miles but the purchase contract specified german miles 4 and a half times as much land as had been agreed. This fraud accounted for i dont know that since the norm is a state german emperor will hunt the 1st issue to rid of protection and on august 7th 1904 the imperial flag was raised over than a 1000000. I grew up in was renamed its bay. This was just the beginning soon the german protectorate encompassed one and a half times as much land as germany itself. Like elsewhere in europe the population of germany was growing rapidly as was the demand for food. Europe was bursting at the seams and increasingly set its sights on overseas colonies the newly founded german empire was also flexing its muscles in search of Raw Materials cheap labor and land for colonial settlers. They imagined themselves in africa a vast exotic land of opportunity and adventure the european conquest of africa began. German chancellor otto from bismarck wanted to act as mediator issuing invitations to what became known as the berlin conference. In late 1904 the competing european states met to negotiate colonization and trade in africa the race for territory what became known as the scramble for africa was underway germany 2 sought to stake its claim for a place in the sun. These conduct of believe me for a very long time. For holiness and we were told the names of the Condor Partners who believe. The extraordinary skills the diplomatic upness the motivation behind everyone the Pacific Ocean of africa big good deeds of civilization of africa. The courage of the explorers the self forgetting humanism. But nobody. Absolutely nobody pointed to the insult to the disc on that followed as if you were. English in france italy and portugal had already seized land in Africa European colonial powers began to build trade relations they were soon joined by germany which established colonial settlements in togo cameroon east africa and what they called german South West Africa todays namibia. This decision to colonize africa affected the whole africa in its development so africa was left behind African Resources were taken away to europe and as a result we developed as poor people who were left behind so there when its come to you and i mean bia into us not only a question of taking their resources away from us but its also a question of eliminating the population of this country so that has a serious impact on our society. After the berlin conference more and more german settlers began to arrive and then maybe. They triggered conflicts among the local people in order to acquire territory. They signed a treaty of protection with the chief or the herero saying they would defend the herero against the nama a treaty that also serve their own interests. The legendary not much chief hendrik with boy wrote to chief samuel morrow. I learned that you have given yourself into german protection. This dry land is only known by 2 names and our land and number. And. And autonomy is reality. No other captain a leader has any right to force his way home. But you do you captain you have no except in another room and have handed yourself over to a human supremacy for protection. But my dear cant. Do you realize would you have done that will be to you like this son which the jackal carried on his back in which burned him nearly to death. The jackal with the sun on his back the traditional namibian fable as a warning against false friends. Hendrik with boy kept a diary and wrote many letters in afrikaans language that was widely used in Southern Africa at the time today these documents are on the unesco World Heritage list. Hero of the mt colonial resistance portrait adorns the namibian currency. When hendrik record and chief ma herero agreed to make peace german colonial troops should torpor attack the Nama Community at home cards with the aim of eliminating which point the attack was a brutal massacre helpless women and children were killed with boy escaped. With boy wrote and now from whose hands is the blood shed coming the entire world should ask. But the world had little interest and looked away. For the people of namibia the situation grew ever more desperate. Forced labor and Corporal Punishment became the order of the day public executions were commonplace. We do not wish to be beaten. At the last it could be that be osa begin to eat back. The effect of their land and the humiliation at the hands of the german colonial troops united the peoples of namibia the herero revoke the letter of protection with the germans a Resistance Movement was born. Someone had it all wrote. Our people where want and mocked by german merchants. Who was taken away with force. They were from treated. Some men were shot like ducks when they refused to give away their women and children. Our chiefs consulted and determined that the wall could not be there worse than what we had to go through the. War was in the air for the germans this was an insidious insurrection of bloodthirsty savages. For the herero unama it was a war forced upon them. Had it all called for armed struggle. Let us be freer to die together while fighting them rather than by mel treatment apre some. On january 12th 1000 know for the 1st shots were fired. Officers of the German Administration railway stations and shops were attacked and destroyed white farmers were killed their wives and children were spared. On january 21st 1000 or 400 at all wrote. The top or all that dont remember him but maybe coming. All we. Only. Mumble i mean back you know we can all make a movie just you know but only know. How many cows in there he now we know. Oh poor me. The german colonial troops were no match for the heard of they called for reinforcements from germany. Additional military equipment and troops were dispatched and soon some 20000 men landed at. The german emperor installed a new commander at the head. Its very difficult to describe. In a poor amena how it feels to do that the German Authorities of the time. Actually said down. And in a calculated mina. In a coach related manner. Decided to send somebody who was handpicked to come into a specific job. And one thought i came here. And for the 1st time in the history of mankind. Said art they did not settle intended in writing. That. I want my troops to go out there. To wipe our. A whole community. From the face of the earth. In east africa and china no tough one torture had already earned himself a reputation as a harsh and merciless soldier his message for namibia was. Clean it up hang it up shoot it down by destroy the rebellious tribes with streams of blood and streams of money. August 11th 1000 or 4 tens of thousands of head o. P. People were gathered with their families and their herds at the waterbury plateau. There was enough water and food for everyone this was their ancestral land and they plan to defend it and. Heard it all remember the fighting that followed as the battle of. General issued his infamous extermination order. They had had 0 are no longer german subjects within the german borders every hereto with or without a gun with or without cattle will be shot. I will no longer accept women and children i will drive them back to their people oh i will let them be shot at these are my words to the head that oh people the great general of the mighty german emperor. Beheaded all understood this was a call to genocide. In the initial battles to hit all beat back the german troops. Like the colonial troops they were familiar with the climate and the terrain. Wanted to drive the dado into the desert and. Blocked other escape routes a quote from him says the water shall complete what the german weapons had become the annihilation of the herero people. We accompany muddier cut your heater and 1st to the former battlefield for members of the people this is a very important place in our history of genocide. I got emotional touch with this area because i see even now i dont see the bodies of my home and heroes i feel emotionally that they are here and they felt here they showed bravery against. The machinery of germany and no one and i mean we are today is called the land of the brave because i want to show determination to receive it gains what was fighting to take away from what these what they are what what belongs to them. The strategy off the enemy was to circle the place where i feel were getting water and to an extent also poisoning the water so that they were killed or. At least thats what happened and thats why this place is very important in our history. With it. For me its very hey this. Is my 1st time ever. If you hear the history from all the people that you. Belong. Here. Its a its a its its its paying if you feel. That you cannot describe. In words. It was a magic bullet to face. The magic jim and. If you all did. I meant in a Motion Mission in everything. I think theyre going to be they did not have enough. Guys. Not all those big. National issue. But for the love of the our own country they said that little face it. Men women and children if youre going on here and so on even pick up bones in things like that. Today this land belongs to a white farmer whoever wants to enter it must obtain his permission its really really very painful that even. In deep in the media you have to ask for permission for some of to come here while this place should actually belong to us. Only about 1200 had it all were able to escape including some well known how do you know the others were trapped the watering holes have been poisoned by the germans anyone who tried to flee was shot about 85000 people died of hunger and thirst. At the foot of the water bird my fallen german soldiers. They have names dates of birth and death and military honors. The cemetery is supported by the German War Graves Commission ringback there is no mention of genocide guilt or regret. A small plaque is hidden at the rear wall of the cemetery that is supposed to recall the fallen hero warriors but it bears no names or other information. We know where we lived where our sisters are buried we please this while were past those places and they dont belong to us. So it is not something that is forgotten the reality is still there. Grew up talk around i would see the mountain of water back which we saw when bowers this is a buried but we lost it. So you grow up also knowing and. Grandparents would talk about. Once a situation was before we were. After the genocide what was called the necessary labor material became scarce who would do the work needed to operate the colony the country needed new Railway Lines to serve the settlers the military and trade operations including a railway line its the work was hard and the weather near the atlantic was cold and stormy the men and women recruited into forced labor were used to a desert climate thousands died. Traces of their graves are visible alongside the tracks and again they are nameless the graves were only discovered recently. Today you know that as a small colonial town in the south of namibia the fishing and the harbor are the lifeline of the community and the buildings were called the towns glory days when money was earned handover fist inspected lavish celebrations. Diamond deposits brought the area free flourish of prosperity it was the only time in which the colony was economically viable for germany. But little bits also has a much darker history. The infamous shark island today its both a tourist attraction and a memorial this is where the german set up a concentration camp in which they imprisoned any native people they deemed troublesome. It was only one of many concentration camps in the country. Well. As were tracing her familys roots her great great grandmother was imprisoned here. Little is known about her but hopes to find out more. What was her life like in the camp conditions here were terrible every day brought death to many men women and children ready. I think most of the time what she would have been doing is just leave in fear you know fear just tara. If she was the only one from the family that was here you dont know if everybody else have survived the alive they might have a going to see them again. I guess i just died here trying to escape because you dont know what lies ahead from here. More than half of the people imprisoned here perished. The strong and healthy were sold to white farmers 20th century slave trade women in the camp were forced to clean the skulls of the beheaded using shards of glass. Skulls were packed in boxes and sent to the shell get a hospital in berlin for research purposes. This research would evolve into the racial science that flourished under the nazi regime. Some of the women had to clean the heads off you know the men and people that were beheaded you know it could have been a brother could have been an uncle could have been you know somebody who was just here you have to clean. The sexual assaults committed by the german soldiers are also part of this dark history. My whole family from both sides have driven that. My grandmother says a told me that there was german soldiers around there was a captain who then would call for her demand for her to come to the barracks i think the way they used to live so i went my grandmothers sister told me is that then they