OvaHerero Commemoration Day in Okahandja
OvaHerero Commemoration Day in Okahandja
• OvaHerero Commemoration Day in Okahandja •
24 July to 26 July 2026 (Friday to Sunday)
Venues: Okahandja Erf 1755, Kukuri Center and Okahandja Community Hall.
Information as per programme by the organisers, OvaHerero Traditional Authority (OTA) of Paramount Chief Mutjinde Katjiua and OvaHerero Genocide Foundation (OGF):
‘Their Legacy Our Strength, Their Vision Our Future.’
OVAHERERO COMMEMORATION DAY
Paramount Chief Professor Mutjinde Katjiua
24th to 26th July 2026 – Okahandja
For more information contact: Apii Fritz Katjiruru +264 81 248 0358
OVAHERERO TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY
JULY COMMEMORATION
PROGRAM
17th to 19th July 2026 – Okahandja.
THURSDAY – 23th July 2026
Whole day – ERF 1755
Arrival of the masses from the regions and the diaspora.
Ozondangere – Traditional Blessings.
FRIDAY – 24th July 2026
07:00 till late – ERF 1755
Arrival of the masses from the regions and the diaspora.
Ozondangere – Traditional Blessings.
09:00 to 17:00 – Kukuri Center
Cooperatives Induction Meeting.
18:00 till late – ERF 1755
Cultural Activities – Outjina / Omuhiva / Omaimburiro.
SATURDAY – 25th July 2026
07:00 to 19:00 – ERF 1755
Ozondangere – Traditional Blessings.
Cultural Activities – Oukambe / Onderera / Ombimbi.
09:00 to 12:00 – Okahandja Community Hall
Senate & Chiefs Council Meeting.
14:00 – ERF 1755
Onderera (competitions & awards – trophies).
Role of the Redflag as the militia / army of the Ovaherero people.
16:00 to 19:00 – ERF 1755
Horse Riders (competitions & awards – trophies).
Role of the horses during the genocide time.
18:00 till late – ERF 1755
Cultural Activities – Outjina / Omuhiva / Omaimburiro.
SUNDAY – 26th July 2026
07:00 to 13:00
Masses departure to the Heroes Shrine & commemoration / Omairo uoko zongungu nomaamberero.
13:00 to 14:30
Cultural Activities – Oukambe / Onderera / Ombimbi.
14:30
1. Introduction of the OTA Field Marshals / Omatjiukisiro uozo Field Marshal zomananeno uouhonapare uovaherero.
2. Inauguration of the newly appointed Field Marshals / Omajerero uozo Field Marshals.
3. Speech from the Ovaherero Youth Association (OYA) / Ehungi okuza Komitanda.
4. Speeches from the OTA Chiefs / Omahungi okuza kozombara zomuhoko.
Speech from Dr Ngondi Kamatuka / Ehungi okuza konongo Ngondi Kamatuka.
5. Keynote address by the Paramount Chief, Prof. Mutjinde Katjiua / Ehungi rejuva okuza komujandja maronga omutenga, Ombara Otjitambi Prof. Mutjinde Katjiua.
- See the programme of the ‘OvaHerero Commemoration Day’ in Okahandja, 24 to 26 July 2026, by the OvaHerero Traditional Authority (OTA) by Paramount Chief Mutjinde Katjiua.
Editor’s note:
This event was originally scheduled to take place from 17 to 19 July 2026 (previous weekend).
That weekend, the OTA of rivalling Paramount Chief Hozé Riruako held a commemoration “Omayuva Yakahandja”. The occasion was to pay “tribute to our fallen High Priest / Ondangere & The Lion / Ongejama”.
- See the programme of the commemoration ‘Omayuva Yakahandja’,17 to 19 July 2026, by the OTA of Paramount Chief Hozé Riruako.
The date of that event referred to the day of Paramount Chief Hosea Kutako’s passing. Kutako died on 18 July 1970 at the age of 100 in the Aminuis Reserve (see also the Wikipedia article).
Both events should not be confused with the Maharero Royal House’s annual Red Flag Day at the end of August. On the weekend around August 26, the OvaHerero commemorate Paramount Chief Samuel Maharero.
Samuel Maharero died on 14 March 1923, in exile in Serowe, Bechuanaland (today Botswana). His remains were repatriated to South West Africa (today Namibia) and interred in Okahandja from 23 to 26 August 1923 (see also the article on Wikipedia).