Israel Kaunatjike, born 1947 in Namibia, has lived in Berlin for more than 30 years and works as a consultant on educational questions, with a focus on German colonial history in German South-West Africa (Deutsch-Südwestafrika) from the Apartheid period until present day Namibia.

Israel Kaunatjike, born 1947 in Namibia, has lived in Berlin for more than 30 years and works as a consultant on educational questions, with a focus on German colonial history in German South-West Africa (Deutsch-Südwestafrika) from the Apartheid period until present day Namibia.

As a Herero activist he is engaged in the struggle for recognition by the German government of its responsibility for colonial crimes in present day Namibia.

"For example, in 1884 the division of Africa took place in Berlin, and Germany was involved in the slave trade, so that means a memorial is very important for the new generation to inform itself and perhaps important to not make these same mistakes that happened at that time."

- Israel Kaunatjike

"For example, in 1884 the division of Africa took place in Berlin, and Germany was involved in the slave trade, so that means a memorial is very important for the new generation to inform itself and perhaps important to not make these same mistakes that happened at that time."

- Israel Kaunatjike


What word comes to your mind when you think of the Humboldtforum / Berliner Schloss? Please explain.

Well, for me Humboldt Forum means plunder, theft and that means that all these objects, all these cultural goods which are in this museum were just brought here to Germany in a crooked manner and that means they are simply spoils, in my opinion. That’s to put it a bit more radically, but they are spoils to me and they don’t belong in this museum, they belong in the countries they come from.

Do you think that Germany should pay reparations to the Herero and Nama communities that were affected by and dispossessed during the genocide from 1904-08? Please elaborate.

To me that’s a must, that means Germany is obligated, after all this history, the genocide of the Herero and Nama, landgrabbing, cattle raiding, the expulsion of people, I find that Germany is obligated to pay reparations.

Do you think that a memorial and informational centrum concerning the topic slavery, colonialism and racism should be built in Berlin? Please elaborate.

I find that memorials and for example also information centres are very helpful and it is part of a reappraisal and of history. For example, in 1884 the division of Africa took place in Berlin, and Germany was involved in the slave trade, so that means a memorial is very important for the new generation to inform itself and perhaps important to not make these same mistakes that happened at that time.

What’s your take on the many human remains from the Global South that are kept in German museums until today?

The human remains or skulls, what is here in Germany in museums or private collections has to go back to Namibia. Well, it doesn’t belong here at all, it is inhumane and this is, the people have a… they have to be buried at home so that means we demand as fast as possible that these human remains be repatriated, this is our demand, which we’ve been claiming for many years. So far we have had transfers of human remains twice and many more are still here in Berlin’s museums, and I find that important that they simply get back home.

According to you, how important is the equal and conceptional contribution of descendants of colonized people to handle the colonial past (i.e. negotiations regarding reparations, museums, exhibitions, representation in schoolbooks, street renaming etc.)?

As we know there are ongoing negotiations between the two governments, the Namibian and German governments. And the community, the victims’ communities are not involved at all, they are excluded, that means the Nama and Herero are excluded and they represent over 95% of the victims! And it means, that ‘without us about us’ doesn’t work at all. There was a resolution in the Namibian parliament when all parties agreed, in 2006, that the Namibian government would only take part as jury and not as the main negotiator, the negotiation partner of Germany. But as we now know Namibia istaking orders from Germany and they just leave us out, and so we won’t recognize any no decision taken by these two partners without us. That means our fight will continue.