Uncovering the Past - Introduction

Hi Everyone - thanks for visiting. I’m starting this blog to document my introductory trip to Namibia. Dedicated to social causes and the unification of humanity, my goal is to raise awareness and educate the world about an important, missing piece of our historical puzzle. This is my first major documentary, and I welcome you all to follow this journey to uncovering a past long overdue for world attention.

A couple of years ago, I stumbled upon a crucial and horrific piece of history, relating to Namibia’s former rule by Germany. I learned that in the early part of the 20th Century, the Herero and Nama, native Namibians, suffered greatly at the hands of the German military, in what was to become the first genocide of the 20th Century. In addition to their brutal treatment of the natives, the Germans conducted inhumane studies on eugenics, resulting in a body of research which would soon be channeled into Nazi ideology. I felt horrified that this past was not part of our history books.

Over the past several months, I have been documenting the social impact of Germany’s “forgotten genocide” in both New York and Germany, in the Herero and Nama’s fight for restorative justice. This weekend, I will leave for Namibia to shed light on a part of history that has been been overshadowed for far too long. Through photographs and video clips, I will document the historical traces of Germany’s “forgotten genocide” in southern Africa.

Ida Hoffmann, Namibian Member of Parliament, gives an impassioned speech in front of activists, onlookers, and media at the 11th Annual Memorial March for the African Victims of Colonialism in Berlin on February 25, 2017.

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A lot is happening as I prepare to leave for Namibia this weekend. I have recently been named as foreign correspondent with Namibian newspaper, New Era, to cover the court case of the native Namibians vs. Germany, here in New York. 
Click here for my article, which made front page news: 

https://www.newera.com.na/2017/03/20/us-court-postpones-genocide-hearing/


Members of the Herero and Nama delegation outside the New York City courthouse at the first hearing of the case lodged against Germany, March 16, 2017. Veraa Katuuo, Vepuka Katuuo-Kauari, Plantiffs’ lawyer Ken McCallion, and Namibian Member of Parliament Ida Hoffmann.

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I have also been contacted by two major international media outlets, who are interested in running my work as a mini documentary series on their websites. Such great news!

A huge thank you to ALL who have supported me in this journey of raising awareness on behalf of the Herero and Nama who are fighting for restorative justice. I firmly believe that a more complete view of the past allows us a clearer view of the future, and provides us clues as to how we can prevent such atrocities from taking place again. 

Stay tuned for more updates as I travel to Namibia in the coming days. 


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