OvaHerero Commemoration Day in Okahandja

24 July to 26 July 2026 (Friday to Sunday)

Venues: Okahandja Erf 1755, Kukuri Center and Okahandja Community Hall.

‘OvaHerero Commemoration Day’ in Okahandja, 24 to 26 July 2026. Organiser: OvaHerero Traditional Authority (OTA) of Paramount Chief Mutjinde Katjiua.  Poster: OTA (Katjiua)

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

24th to 26th 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 – 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.

Paramount Chief Mutjinde Katjiua of the OvaHerero Traditional Authority (OTA) inspecting the ‘otroupa’ parade on 26 July 2026. Shortly afterwards the procession set off to the Herero graves. The ‘OvaHerero Commemoration Day’ took place from 24 to 26 July 2026 in Okahandja. Photo: Sven-Eric Stender

Paramount Chief Mutjinde Katjiua of the OvaHerero Traditional Authority (OTA) at the grave of Hosea Kutako. The graves of Herero leaders were the destination of the procession during the ‘OvaHerero Commemoration Day’ in Okahandja from 24 to 26 July 2026. Photo: Sven-Eric Stender

Tent at the assembly point of the OvaHerero Traditional Authority (OTA) under Paramount Chief Mutjinde Katjiua in Okahandja. Between 350 and 400 OvaHerero were present at the speeches on the last day of the ‘OvaHerero Commemoration Day’ in Okahandja, 24 to 26 July 2026. Photo: Sven-Eric Stender

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• See the programme of the ‘OvaHerero Commemoration Day’ in Okahandja, 24 to 26 July 2026, by the OvaHerero Traditional Authority (OTA) under Paramount Chief Mutjinde Katjiua.

• Note the script of the speech of OTA Paramount Chief Mutjinde Katjiua held on Sunday 24 July 2026 (check against delivery).

• See also the report “‘The Ovaherero are not divided'” from 27 July 2026 by the Namibian in the ‘Media Reports’ section of this website, and the video report from 25 July 2026 by the Namibian on Facebook.

• Note also the report “OvaHerero erinnern an Vermächtnis und Zukunft” (OvaHerero commemorate legacy and future) from 29 July 2026 by the Allgemeine Zeitung in the ‘Media Reports’ section of this website.

• Check also report “Ovaherero commemorations: A declaration of heroism – Katjiua” from 30 July 2026 by New Era, in the ‘Media Reports’ section of this website.

• See also the OvaHerero Commemoration ‘Otjiserandu’ in Okahandja, 17 to 19 July 2026, by the OvaHerero Traditional Authority (OTA) under rivalling Paramount Chief Hozé Riruako, in the ‘Perspectives’ section of this website.

• Note also the Joint Declaration of the Governments of Germany and Namibia in the ‘Primary Sources’ section of this website.

Editor’s note:

This event was originally scheduled to take place on the previous weekend, 17 to 19 July 2026. However, the OTA of rivalling Paramount Chief Hozé Riruako held its commemoration ‘Otjiserandu’ (Red Flag) on the same weekend (see link above).

The event premises of both factions are right next to each other. To avoid conflict, the OTA of Katjiua decided to postpone its event by one week.

The original annual Red Flag commemoration was held on a weekend close to 26 August. Established and driven by late Paramount Chief Hosea Kutako, it commemorated the burial of the mortal remains of 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, that may contain unverified information).

The procession of the original Red Flag Commemoration first visited the graves of Samuel Maharero, his father Kamaharero and his grandfather Tjamuaha. The key to the now redesigned burial sites is apparently held by the Royal House Maharero. Neither of the two OTA factions visited these burial sites during their processions.