28/05/2026
This morning the Executive Director, in his capacity as a Heritage Activist, had an interview with Radio from Namibia. Because of time limitations, he only managed to answer 2 of his planned questions on air, as captured in the poster. However below are the questions & responses, as to what today means for us & for the Namibians as we offer solidarity during the commemoration of this eventful day.
99FM Radio Presenter's Question:
As Namibia commemorates Genocide Remembrance Day today, what does this day represent not only for the Nama and OvaHerero communities, but for the national identity and historical consciousness of Namibia as a whole?
Mr Cooper's Response:
First of all, greetings to you and all your listeners in Namibia. Let me thank you again for reaching out, and also acknowledge and commend the noble decision by Namibia to officially commemorate Genocide Remembrance Day. This is not a simple or easy process, especially considering the deep emotional, political and historical sensitivities involved for victim communities such as the Nama and the OvaHerero peoples.
For many descendants of victims, there may still be differing emotions and opinions around remembrance, including questions around dates, representation, recognition and justice. But regardless of those complexities, the very act of remembrance by the Namibian nation is highly significant and commendable.
This day should not only belong to the Nama and OvaHerero communities alone. It should be a day where Namibia as a nation pauses and reflects, reflecting on its painful past, but also reflecting on how far the country has come despite inheriting one of the darkest chapters in African colonial history.
At the same time, remembrance is important because the consequences of genocide did not end with the killings themselves. The effects continue to shape families, identities, land ownership, displacement, poverty, trauma and cultural continuity even today.
So for Namibiaβs national identity, this day becomes part of building historical consciousness. A mature nation must be able to confront painful truths honestly, not to divide people, but to ensure that future generations understand what happened, why it happened, and why humanity must never allow such injustices again.
As I wrap up attempting this question, most importantly, remembrance must also create space for healing, it must create dialogue, and collective responsibility as Namibians to move forward together.
99FM Presenter's Question:
For Nama communities living in the diaspora, how has displacement, whether historical or modern, affected cultural identity, language preservation, and the connection to ancestral land?
Mr Cooper's Response:
For many Nama communities in the diaspora, displacement has had profound effects on identity, language and belonging.
Some of us are in the diaspora precisely because of the genocide and the extermination orders issued at the time. Communities were forced to flee ancestral territories in order to survive. Others were displaced through colonial land dispossession and later socioeconomic pressures, whereas unfortunately others perished in an undignified manner.
Genocide by its nature is consequential. People were left with impossible choices: flee your homeland, surrender under brutal conditions, or face annihilation.
Over generations, displacement has contributed to language loss, cultural assimilation and weakened connections to ancestral territories. Many families became separated across modern borders such as Namibia, Botswana and South Africa, despite historically belonging to interconnected communities.
As a Nama person and a citizen of Botswana with strong Namibian roots, these histories remain deeply personal. Even in the diaspora, many people still carry emotional, spiritual and cultural connections to ancestral land and heritage.
At the same time, diaspora communities have also shown resilience. Across borders, people continue trying to preserve language, oral histories, cultural practices and identity despite the pressures of assimilation and modernization.
This is why cultural festivals, like the Annual Nama Cultural Festival - Namibia planned for this week in Keetmanshoop, remembrance days, language revitalization efforts and community storytelling remain so important to date.
Question Provided but not responded to on Air:
From the perspective of the diaspora, what does meaningful acknowledgment and reconciliation look like today, beyond symbolic gestures or political statements?
Mr Cooper's Position:
Meaningful acknowledgment begins with honesty. It requires openly recognising the historical truth and the lasting consequences of genocide on affected communities.
But beyond symbolic gestures, reconciliation must become practical, human and restorative.
For many people, reconciliation means restoring dignity. It means ensuring communities feel seen, heard and included in conversations about their own history and future.
It may involve issues of historical justice, reparations, land, cultural restoration, education, language preservation and socioeconomic empowerment. But it also involves human relationships and trust-building.
Personally, I believe the most important question is: how do we cross the bridge and move forward together, even with those whose ancestors committed injustices against our own?
That is not an easy conversation, but it is a necessary one. We cannot change the past, but we can choose how we respond to it today. Some generations inherit unfortunate histories innocently, yet they still carry responsibility to help build a more just future.
As a human rights defender and someone from the diaspora community in Botswana, I also follow the ongoing Joint Declaration discussions between Namibia and Germany with deep interest. Our sincere hope in Botswana is that descendants and affected Nama communities living across borders are meaningfully engaged in these processes, and that our narratives and interests are also incorporated.
Many of us are in Botswana today because of the direct consequences of the genocide and the extermination orders that forced our ancestors to flee their ancestral lands in search of survival. Therefore, while borders may separate us politically today, the historical pain, displacement and inherited realities remain interconnected.
True reconciliation should therefore recognise the broader regional impact of the genocide, including its effects on diaspora communities whose histories remain tied to Namibia.
True reconciliation is not about forgetting the past. It is about confronting it honestly, restoring humanity where it was denied, and creating conditions where future generations can coexist with dignity, respect and shared understanding.
As descendants in the diaspora, we stand in solidarity with Namibia during this remembrance. We pause, reflect and honour the resilience of those who survived, while also hoping for a future grounded in justice, healing and reconciliation.
Question Provided but not asked on air:
More than a century later, why is it still important for younger generations to continue speaking about the genocide, remembrance, and historical justice?
Mr Cooper's position:
It remains important because history does not disappear simply because time has passed. The consequences of genocide are inter-generational.
Many younger people today may not have directly experienced the genocide itself, but they continue living with some of its consequences, displacement, loss of ancestral land, language erosion, fragmented identities, economic marginalization and historical trauma.
If younger generations stop speaking about these histories, there is a danger that memory disappears, and once memory disappears, injustice can easily be minimised, distorted or forgotten.
At the same time, remembrance should not only be about pain. It should also be about education, resilience and identity. Young people need to understand the survival stories of their communities, how their ancestors resisted, adapted and endured under impossible conditions.
As descendants, we inherit both pain and responsibility. Responsibility to preserve our histories, our languages, our cultures and the dignity of those who suffered.
But importantly, speaking about genocide today should not necessarily mean promoting hatred or division. As a believer in restorative justice, I believe remembrance should help societies find ways to heal, reconcile and move forward together.
Sometimes innocent generations inherit painful histories they did not create themselves. The challenge for our generation is how we collectively respond to that inheritance in a way that restores dignity and humanity.
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