Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro
Indeed there could be no more befitting title than A Symbol of People’s Determination, a book about the history of the Old Location, the residential area of the indigenous Africans in the then Apartheid South West Africa. Before their forceful removal in the late 1960s from the Old Location, present-day Hochland Park residential area in Windhoek. Befitting title in the sense that indeed the Old Location gave genesis to present-day Katutura. Not as it is today when it has sprawled all over. But then only a small conclave of brick houses spread over a radius of eight (8) kilometres. As the name denotes, no permanent living; it gave ventilation to the indigenous people’s state of constant forceful removal from one abode to another. Whether to make more space for the privileged class, predominantly the white caste, or to remove them far away from the whites, practically and perceptually, lest they contaminate them, thus guaranteeing them security socially, culturally and foremost in terms of security.
It is in the Old Location where the seed of resistance in later days was planted. Taking off from the early resistance of the founding foremothers and forefathers of the resistance against German colonialism. Starting with the “people’s determination”, as Henning Melber, the author of the book, points out, as per the title of the book. Right through to the latter-day liberation struggle as spearheaded by subsequent generations of the hue and character of Uatja Kaukuetu, Kephas Konradie, Sam Nujoma and many others. Of course, imbued, inspired and guided by the likes of Hosea Kutako.
It was in the very Old Location that was the harbinger of black education through few, if any, of the schools for Africans at the time, like St Barnabas. Through which many were introduced to schooling at the time to later become the black brainpower of Black determination, resilience and national resistance against, let alone, apartheid oppression and forceful removal to Katutura. With the particular mention of alma maters such as Berthold Himumuine, Clement Kapuuo and Ervin Tjirumuje.
The book guides the reader through an educational and informative historical tour from the Old Location through to Katutura, including the 1958 massacre when 12 people were gunned down by the Apartheid South Africa Police during a mass resistance to have the indigenous removed to Katutura. Touching on the salient epochs of the time, such as social life, religious inclinations and, foremost, mobilisation and agitation against the forceful removal of the people to Katutura. Backed and supported by illuminating pictures of the time by Dieter Hinrichs, a photographer from Germany who lived and worked in Windhoek between 1959 and 1960.
Like any historical research work, surely the book cannot claim to be all of everything of that time. But indeed it gives a glossary history of the time within the limits of human endeavour. Giving a useful overview of the historical epochs of the times of the Old Location. Thus providing vital information for those who may want to further delve into this epoch as well as administer to the nostalgia for those from that time still alive. As well as enriching some of us who then were mere babies, like myself, only a year after the 1959 massacre. But witnessed the eventual removal in 1968 to Katutura. When I was only ten years old. I fondly remember one of the popular social entertainments of the times being what was fondly referred to as “Bazaars”, basically fundraising events. Parallel with and to social clubs hailing by different names like “Fifty Service” and what-have-you. One popular event of the time was also football. As Carlos Kambaekua well testifies in his book launched recently: THE UNTOLD HISTORY OF NAMIBIAN FOOTBALL. Which somehow served as a catalyst for social integration and harmony in an otherwise segregated society. I am also not quite sure if in the Old Location there was any public transport for people to get into town for work. Other than either footing or relying on the few who could then afford cars. Much the same situation today when municipal public transport is a rarity, with people making use of taxis and/or private transport, cycling and footing. The book is available from Namibian Books.
