By Rinelda Mouton
The Rehoboth Baster community is calling on the Namibian government to give greater national recognition to the annual Sam !Khubis commemoration by declaring it a public holiday and incorporating its history into the national school curriculum.
Community members say the move is essential to preserve the history, culture and religious heritage of the Basters, warning that younger generations risk losing touch with one of the defining moments in their history.
Every year on 7 and 8 May, Basters from across Namibia gather at Sam !Khubis, about 80 kilometres southwest of Rehoboth, to honour the covenant their forefathers made with God in 1915 after surviving what they believed would be certain annihilation at the hands of German colonial forces.
Captains Council member Karl Manfred Draghoender said teaching the history of Sam !Khubis in schools is vital because a community without a history has no identity.
“The sacrifices our forefathers made on that brutal day and the promise they made to God must never be forgotten. As a Christian community, it is important to honour that promise, and only government can help fulfil it by recognising Sam !Khubis nationally. What makes Sam !Khubis unique is the faith our forefathers placed in God when they made that vow,” he said.
Draghoender added that recognising each other’s cultures and traditions is essential to strengthening national unity.
“Let us unite as one nation by respecting and supporting one another’s heritage,” he said.

Sam !Khubis committee member Mervin Beukes said the commemoration deserves wider national and international recognition.
“It is important that people know the history of the Rehoboth Basters. The day should become a public holiday, but it must be honoured properly. People should attend the commemorations instead of treating it as another day off,” he said.
Beukes hopes to see greater participation, particularly from young people, during next year’s commemoration.
“I pray that the Sam !Khubis festival will continue to grow from generation to generation,” he said.
Chairperson of the Rehoboth Baster Gemeente Concerned Group, Johannes Lukas de Klerk, believes Baster history should form part of Namibia’s education system.
“Sam !Khubis is sacred to us because it reminds us that God heard the prayers of our forefathers and mothers when they cried out for help. We are grateful that our people survived. Other communities should also learn about our struggle during the colonial era. Our children need to understand where they come from and the importance of unity and supporting one another during difficult times,” he said.
High school learner Mara Van Wyk echoed those sentiments, saying history helps young people under- stand both their communities and the wider world.
“History is more than a dusty record of the past. It helps young people understand current issues, develop critical thinking skills and avoid repeating past mistakes. It teaches us how society developed and inspires active citizenship,” Van Wyk said.
Writer Louisa Beukes described Sam !Khubis as a deeply spiritual and cultural gathering that reconnects Basters with their roots.
“Every year the Baster community leaves everything behind to return to Sam !Khubis, reflect on what our forefathers endured, celebrate how they survived through God’s grace and renew the covenant they made with Him,” she said.
She said it was unfortunate that many young Basters grow up without learning enough about their own history.
“The Basters are one of Namibia’s oldest communities with a rich history, yet many young people are deprived of learning about it. The media have played an important role in keeping the memory of Sam !Khubis alive, and we appreciate that. I hope every Baster, and indeed everyone living in Rehoboth, will set aside these two days each year to take part in the commemorations,” she said.
