5 November 2022

Conference: The German Colonial Genocide in Namibia


5 November 2022, 3:00 pm
Haus der Kulturen der Welt

Between 1904 and 1908, German imperial forces perpetrated the first genocide of the 20th century in then German South-West Africa, involving the targeted ‘extermination’ of large numbers of Ovaherero, Ovambanderu and Nama people and the killing of many others. The conference presents the initial stage of ongoing collaborative research and discusses the effects of these colonial crimes.


Program
 
  • 3 pm: Welcome by Bernd Scherer, HKW
  • 3.15 pm: Introduction: German Colonial Genocide in Namibia and the question of reparations – an ongoing process, by Wolfgang Kaleck, ECCHR
  • 3.35 pm: Presentation & Q+A – Interim findings of the research conducted around the Waterberg, with Imani Jacqueline Brown (FA), Kambanda Veii (OGF), Agata Nguyen Chuong (FA), Eyal Weizman (FA)
  • 5 pm: Break
  • 5.30 pm: Intervention via video – Developing a legal framework to redress colonialism as a unique crime with Joshua Castellino (Minority Rights Group), introduced and commented on by Sarah Imani (ECCHR)
  • 6.15 pm: Panel – German colonialism and genocide: Pleading and negotiating a case for reparations, with Sima Luipert, Prof. Mutjinde Katjiua, Vepuka Kauari, Esther Muinjangue, Mbakuma Hengari (OGF), moderated by John Nakuta (University of Namibia)

The conference presents the first findings of a research conducted by Forensic Architecture/Forensis, together with the Ovaherero/Ovambanderu Genocide Foundation on sites of key importance in the German genocidal campaign around the Waterberg area. An accompanying discussion with representatives from the Ovaherero, Ovambanderu and Nama communities organized by ECCHR, explores challenges and shortcomings in addressing Germany's colonial negation and the subsequent renunciation of its duty of repair. The contributors demand reparations, restitutions and redress according to the needs of the affected people within and beyond the existing international legal frameworks.

The conference takes place within the framework of the Investigative Commons. Unfortunately no travel grants are available for this conference. The event will be recorded and shared on the website of the Haus der Kulturen der Welt and ECCHR afterwards.

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