Heroes' Day (Namibia)

Last updated
Heroes' Day
Official nameNamibia Day
Observed by Namibia
Date 26 August
Next time26 August 2025 (2025-08)
Frequencyannual

Heroes' Day (Afrikaans : Helde-dag, German : Heldentag) is a national public holiday in Namibia. It is recognized by the United Nations as Namibia Day. Celebrated annually on 26 August, [1] the day commemorates the Namibian War of Independence which began on 26 August 1966 at Omugulugwombashe. [2]

Contents

Origin

In 1966 the United Nations General Assembly revoked South Africa's mandate to govern South West African territory and placed it under direct UN administration. South Africa refused to recognize this resolution. [3] South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) at that time prepared for armed resistance and founded its armed wing, the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) in 1962. Many of its erstwhile commanders were in exile but PLAN began to infiltrate the north of Namibia to establish training camps. Omugulugwombashe was one such training camp, established in June 1966 by PLAN commander John Ya Otto Nankudhu. The group under Nankudhu had just started to build defensive structures [4] and planned to train about 90 soldiers there. [5]

On 26 August 1966, eight helicopters of the South African Defence Force attacked the guerrilla fighters at Omugulugwombashe. At the time of attack there were only 17 soldiers in the camp. [6] It was the first armed battle of the War. [7] Omugulugwombashe is declared as one of the Heroes Acre in Namibia, and it is a settlement in the Tsandi electoral constituency in the Omusati Region of northern Namibia.[ citation needed ]

In commemoration of the day, 26 August is a public holiday in Namibia. While recognized by the United Nations as Namibia Day, [8] the day is celebrated as Heroes' Day in Namibia.It is normally celebrated in different regions and for this year (26 August 2024)was celebrated at Omuthiya in Oshikoto region under the theme honoring our Martyrs.

Proceedings

National celebrations take place annually at different places, usually in the north of Namibia near important battle zones. Hundreds of people annually gather to watch leaders officially commemorate veterans of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN). [9] Likewise, honours, such as military medals, are handed out on the day. [10] [11] Heroes' Acre, a war memorial outside of Windhoek, was opened on Heroes' Day in 2002. [12] It is also the same day that the United Nations Institute for Namibia, a tertiary educational body in Zambia under the auspices of the United Nations and forerunner to the University of Namibia, was inaugurated in 1976. [13]

Herero Day

Monument to Herero Chiefs in Okahandja: Gravestone of Tjamuaha, Maharero, and Samuel Maharero Maharero monument Okahandja.jpg
Monument to Herero Chiefs in Okahandja: Gravestone of Tjamuaha, Maharero, and Samuel Maharero

The Battle of Waterberg on 11 August 1904 was the final battle of the Herero Wars. Following the defeat of the Herero force, the surviving Hereros fled under the leadership of Samuel Maharero, [14] who died in exile in the Transvaal. [15] After his death on 14 March 1923, [4] the South African administration of South West Africa granted permission for his reburial at Okahandja, unaware of the role it would play as a commemoration of anti-colonialisation and a symbol of nationalism.[ citation needed ]

The reburial ceremony on 26 August 1923 was attended by 3,000 Hereros and by 100 Whites, including high-ranking government officials. Since then, Herero Day is held annually as a gesture of resistance, unity and loyalty, as well as defiance against colonisation, particularly that by the Germans. [4]

Postage Stamps

On August 26, 1975, India [16] and Turkey [17] issued stamps titled "Namibia Day".

Related Research Articles

The history of Namibia has passed through several distinct stages from being colonised in the late nineteenth century to Namibia's independence on 21 March 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Nujoma</span> President of Namibia from 1990 to 2005

Samuel Shafiishuna Daniel Nujoma, is a Namibian revolutionary, anti-apartheid activist and politician who served three terms as the first President of Namibia, from 1990 to 2005. Nujoma was a founding member and the first president of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) in 1960. Before 1960, SWAPO was known as the Ovambo People's Organisation (OPO). He played an important role as leader of the national liberation movement in campaigning for Namibia's political independence from South African rule. He established the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) in 1962 and launched a guerrilla war against the apartheid government of South Africa in August 1966 at Omugulugwombashe, beginning after the United Nations withdrew the mandate for South Africa to govern the territory. Nujoma led SWAPO during the lengthy Namibian War of Independence, which lasted from 1966 to 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samuel Maharero</span> Herero chief (1856–1923)

Samuel Maharero was a Paramount Chief of the Herero people in German South West Africa during their revolts and in connection with the events surrounding the Herero genocide. Today he is considered a national hero in Namibia.

Herman Andimba Toivo ya Toivo was a Namibian anti-apartheid activist, politician and political prisoner. Ya Toivo was active in the pre-independence movement, and is one of the co-founders of the South West African People's Organisation (SWAPO) in 1960, and before that, its predecessor the Ovamboland People's Organization (OPO) in 1959.

The Battle of Waterberg took place on August 11, 1904, at the Waterberg, German South West Africa, and was the decisive battle in the German campaign against the Herero.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SWANU</span> Political party in Namibia

The South West Africa National Union (SWANU) is a Namibian political party founded in 1959. Most of its members came from the Herero people, while fellow independence movement SWAPO was mostly an Ovambo party.

The Ovamboland People's Organization (OPO) was a nationalist organization that existed between 1959 and 1960 in South West Africa. The aim of the organization was to end the South African colonial administration, and the placement of South West Africa under the United Nations Trusteeship system. Andimba Toivo ya Toivo had founded its predecessor, the Ovamboland People's Congress, in 1957 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 1959, Sam Nujoma and Jacob Kuhangua established the Ovamboland People's Organization (OPO) at the Old Location in Windhoek. Sam Nujoma was the president of OPO until its transformation into the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) a year later and remained president until Namibia gained independence in 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hosea Kutako</span> Leader of Ovaherero people.

Chief Hosea Katjikururume Komombumbi Kutako, was an early Namibian nationalist leader and a founder member of Namibia's first nationalist party, the South West African National Union (SWANU).

Clemens Kapuuo was a Namibian school teacher, shopkeeper, president of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA), now called Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), and chief of the Herero people of Namibia. Kapuuo was one of the leading opponents of South African rule of his country until his assassination following the Turnhalle Constitutional Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heroes' Acre (Namibia)</span> War memorial in Namibia

Heroes' Acre is an official war memorial of the Republic of Namibia. Built into the uninhabited hills 10 kilometres (6 mi) south of the city centre of Windhoek, Heroes' Acre opened on 26 August 2002. It was created to "foster a spirit of patriotism and nationalism, and to pass [this] to the future generations of Namibia".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herero Day</span> Commemoration of the Herero people of Namibia

Herero Day is a gathering of the Herero people of Namibia to commemorate their deceased chieftains. It is held in Okahandja in central Namibia annually on August 26, the day and place Herero chief Samuel Maharero's body was reburied alongside his ancestors in 1923. Accordingly, the celebrations last three days long, although they usually begin on the Sunday nearest August 23.

Omugulugwombashe is a settlement in the Tsandi electoral constituency in the Omusati Region of northern Namibia. The settlement features a clinic and a primary school. In 1966, the first battle of the South African Border War was fought in Omugulugwombashe. The government of Namibia erected a monument on the 30th anniversary of the battle in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Mweshihange</span> Namibian politician (1930–1998)

Peter Mweshihange was a Namibian revolutionary and guerrilla leader, and after Namibian independence, a politician and diplomat. He was the Namibia's first Minister of Defence from 1990 to 1995, and first ambassador to the People's Republic of China from 1996 until his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Nankudhu</span> Namibian guerrilla, army officer, and politician

John ya Otto Nankudhu was a Namibian guerrilla, army officer and politician. He was the commander of the forces of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) at Omugulugwombashe when the armed struggle for independence began there on 26 August 1966 and was later jailed for 17 years at Robben Island. He is a National Hero of Namibia for his contributions to the independence of the country.

Immanuel Hafeni Augustus Shifidi, born in Windhoek, was a Namibian activist. He was one of the fighters at Omugulugwombashe on 26 August 1966 when eight helicopters of the South African Defence Force attacked SWAPO guerrilla fighters at the camp. It was the first armed battle in the Namibian War of Independence.

Ephraim Kamati Andjengo Kapolo (1924–1967) was a Namibian activist who participated in the pre-independence movement. He was one of the early members of the Ovamboland People's Organization. Kapolo was an active and founding member of the South West Africa Liberation Army (SWALA), the forerunner of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), at the beginning of the Namibian War of Independence.

Patrick Israel Yalombweleni Iyambo affectionately known as Lungada, was an icon of the armed liberation struggle of Namibia and fighter of the first battle in the Namibian War of Independence which took place at Ongulumbashe (Omugulugombashe), in the northern section of South West Africa, in an attack against the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), the armed wing of the South West Africa People's Organisation in 26 August 1966. The War of Independence (part of the larger South African Border War, which included fighting with soldiers from Angola, would continue until 1989. 26 August 26 is now celebrated as "Heroes Day".

Simeon Linekela Kambo Shixungileni, was a Namibian guerrilla, army officer and politician. He was the second commander in -charge of the forces of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) at Omugulugwombashe when the armed struggle for independence began there on 26 August 1966 and was later jailed at Robben Island. He is a National Hero of Namibia for his contributions to the independence of the country.

Gaus Shikomba was a South West Africa Liberation Army (Swala) intelligence officer who was imprisoned on Robben Island from 1966 to 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Namibia–Turkey relations</span> Bilateral relations

Namibia–Turkey relations are the bilateral relations between Namibia and Turkey. Turkey has an embassy in Windhoek since January 4, 2012.

References

  1. ↑ "Heroes' Day". Time and Date. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  2. ↑ "Celebrating the Heroes of Namibia". Namibia Tourism. Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  3. ↑ "Namibian War of Independence 1966–1988". Armed Conflict Events Database. Retrieved 30 November 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 1923 in Namibia KlausDierks.com
  5. ↑ "John Ya Otto Nankudhu passes on". New Era . NAMPA. 22 June 2011. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012.
  6. ↑ Sasman, Catherine (27 August 2010). "Julius Shaambeni Shilongo Mnyika: the guerilla fighter (1938 to 2003)". New Era . Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  7. ↑ Petronella Sibeene (17 April 2009). "Swapo Party Turns 49". New Era. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011.
  8. ↑ United Nations Conferences and Observances Archived 14 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ A military-clad Nujoma hands out 68 medals in The Namibian, 22 September 2003
  10. ↑ President warns of 'havoc' as heroes laid to rest at Eenhana in The Namibian, 28 August 2007
  11. ↑ Khomas calls off Heroes' Day event in The Namibian, 27 August 2003
  12. ↑ Heroes' Acre 'free' for now in The Namibian, 29 October 2002
  13. ↑ A Future 'University of Namibia'?: The Role of the United Nations Institute for Namibia, by Christian M. Rogerson, 1980, Cambridge University Press
  14. ↑ Irwing, Keith (ed.). "The Battle of Waterberg, part 1". namibia-1-on-1.com. Archived from the original on 16 October 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  15. ↑ Irwing, Keith (ed.). "The Battle of Waterberg, part 2". namibia-1-on-1.com. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  16. ↑ "India – Postage stamps – 1975 – Namibia Day". www.stampworld.com. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  17. ↑ "Turkey – Postage stamps – 1975 – Namibia Day". www.stampworld.com. Retrieved 10 May 2023.

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