Africa-Press – Namibia. NEGOTIATIONS to return the belt of the late Chief Kahimemua Hija-Kungairi Nguvauva are underway in Germany between representatives of a Braunschweig-based museum and the Ovambanderu tribe.
A large delegation consisting of 28 people from the Ovambanderu tribe on Monday arrived at Braunschweig in an attempt to get the sacred belt back. A member of the Nguvauva clan, Freddy Nguvauva, said they will today identify and pay tribute to the iconic belt worn by late Chief Kahimemua during his execution in 1896.
Freddy further indicated that they will perform a traditional ritual to honour their late Chief before going to view the belt at the museum. Kahimemua, better known as ‘Omuhatamunua’ by the younger generation, was the chief of the Ovambanderu tribe between 1850 and 1896.
In May 1896, in Otjunda, Kahimemua was wounded and later surrendered to the German colonial soldiers. Accused of organising the uprising against the Germans, he was sentenced to death and executed on 12 June 1896, together with Nikondemus Kavikunua in Okahandja.
Kahimemua was shot 11 times all over the body, but did not succumb to all those bullets. He only died after a 12th bullet to the forehead was fired. The belt, according to historians, was confiscated from Kahimemua before his execution by the Germans. Since then, the belt has been kept in a museum at Braunschweig.
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