Windhoek: Senior Traditional Councillor of the !Ain®daman Traditional Community, Gaob Kawango, has voiced concerns that the historical suffering of the ?Nukhoen (Damara) community during the colonial era has been insufficiently recognized within Namibia's genocide discourse and commemorative narratives.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Kawango, also known by his indigenous and artistic names and |Oro|ob, expressed these sentiments during an interview this week. The historian, linguist, praise singer, poet, and cultural activist highlighted that descendants of affected ?Nukhoen families continue to experience feelings of grief, invisibility, and historical exclusion due to the limited acknowledgment of their suffering in public memory and official narratives.

Kawango pointed out that historical records, such as the British Blue Book of 1918, indicate that approximately 57 percent of the ?Nukhoen population perished during the colonial wars. Yet, their experiences remain largely absent from mainstream discussions on genocide and colonial violence. He emphasized that many descendants feel their ancestors suffered and died without national recognition or dignity, and the silence surrounding their suffering is often perceived as a continuation of historical injustice.

While the extermination orders against the Ovaherero and Nama communities are rightly recognized, Kawango noted that the impact of colonial violence against the ?Nukhoen-including forced labor, slave trading, concentration camp experiences, and political assassinations-receives comparatively little national attention. He highlighted that the omission of ?Nukhoen experiences from educational curricula, commemorative events, and political speeches contributes to feelings of marginalization, particularly among younger generations.

Kawango stressed that recognition and explicit naming of ?Nukhoen suffering are essential for healing, dignity, and historical justice. He asserted that recognition does not diminish the suffering of other communities, but rather, inclusive remembrance strengthens reconciliation by acknowledging the full scope of colonial violence experienced by indigenous communities in Namibia.

Furthermore, Kawango expressed concern that selective remembrance risks creating hierarchies of suffering, where some communities receive visibility while others remain historically invisible. He called for greater inclusion of ?Nukhoen history and oral traditions in museums, memorials, textbooks, national speeches, and genocide commemorations. Elders and traditional leaders regard the preservation of oral history, praise poetry, clan genealogies, and Khoekhoegowab traditions as a sacred responsibility aimed at safeguarding cultural identity and ancestral memory for future generations.