Simon Kooper, a prominent Nama leader and freedom fighter, played a pivotal role in the resistance against colonial oppression in Namibia during the early 20th century. As a staunch advocate for the rights and dignity of the Nama people, Kooper's leadership was instrumental in mobilizing resistance against German colonial rule, which sought to exploit and subjugate his community. His commitment to justice and sovereignty was evident in his efforts to unify disparate groups under a common cause, aiming to restore autonomy and protect traditional lands.
The UNPFII raises awareness and promotes the integration and coordination of activities related to Indigenous issues within the UN system.
Cultural Survival attended the UNPFII and spoke to some of the delegates who attended.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan) and Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar)
Interviewee Sonner Geriya (Khwe)
Music
Libres y Vivas by Mare Advertencia, used with permission.
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
Language diversity, multilingual education, and the development of a deeper appreciation of linguistic and cultural traditions worldwide are all encouraged by the dissemination of mother tongues. The purpose of this program is to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance, and dialogue, and to remind us of the vital role that languages play in preserving and transmitting cultural heritage.
For this year's International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women commemoration, we remember the suffering of Indigenous Herero and Nama Peoples who suffered greatly at the hands of German colonists.
We spoke to Sima Luipert, from Namibia, about how violence from the past can lead to intergenerational Trauma.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Sima Luipert (Nama)
Music: 'Anania2' by The Baba Project, used with permission
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
The Bonn Climate Change Conference is hosting a large number of mandated events, and continues discussions on issues of critical importance, such as global stocktake, global goal on adaptation, just transition, loss and damage, and the mitigation work program. Cultural Survival's Edson Krenak interviewed Simson Kapembe.
Produced by Edson Krenak (Krenak)
Edited by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interviewee: Simson Kapembe (San)
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
In 2019 Cultural Survival started helping the San people in a remote part of Namibia to start their own radio station. The idea was to build a web radio station first and then apply for a license from the broadcasting authority in Namibia.
In this podcast we hear from Disco Koki (!Xun), one of the trainees, who came to South Africa to receive training at XK FM, the South African government-funded radio station, that was set up to give the San people a voice.
"Lights in the forest by Ziibiwan, Used with Permission
Technology has the potential to address some of the greatest challenges in education today. It can accelerate efforts towards ensuring equitable and inclusive lifelong learning opportunities for all if it is guided by the core principles of inclusion and equity. Multilingual education based on mother tongue is a key component of inclusion in education.
What are the challenges on the ground when it comes to teaching Indigenous languages?
Cultural Survival spoke to Erna Esme Honnes – a Khoekhoegowab teacher from the Damara people of Namibia who told us more.
Khwedam Radio in Namibia was started in 2019 with support from Cultural Survival as an internet radio station.
In this radio program, we hear about the progress of the station, as well as some of the challenges experienced by the management of the station.
Produced by Shaldon Ferris (Khoisan)
Interview by Khwedam Radio
"Anania2" by The Baba Project, used with permission
"Burn your village to the ground", by The Halluci Nation, used with permission.
The state of Germany has agreed to compensate the state of Namibia, by means of a development fund of 1.4 billion Euros, over 30 years. How will this agreement benefit the descendents of the victims of the thousands of people who were tortured and murdered by the colonial rulers of the South Western African country of Namibia, in the early 1900's.
Diana Morat from Eldos FM, a community radio station in Johannesburg, South Africa interviews Martinus Fredericks, a direct descendent of Cornelius Fredericks, who was a Nama leader who fought along Kaptein Hendrik Witbooi.
UNESCO calls on radio stations to celebrate World Radio Day's 10th anniversary and the more than 110 years of radio. Cultural Survival's Indigenous Rights Radio supported the Khwe people from the Okavango region in starting Khwedam Radio – a radio station that will assist the Khwe and !Xun speaking San Peoples to be able to communicate better with each other in remote regions of Namibia.
This interview is part of a multi radio project with three radio stations in South Africa. Jayd Smith interviews the Namibian organizers of the Nama Festival, and annual celebration that takes place in Keetmanshoop, South Africa.
The organizers of the festival were recently in South Africa, where a video of them singing in Khoekhoegowab has surfaced and was quite popular among the locals.
Jayd Smith from Eldos FM in Johannesburg interviewed Macci Eigus, Dawid Eigub en Dirk Eigub.
Hunger and obesity often co-exists in countries where a home cooked meal is far more difficult to attain than fast food, processed food and foods that are high in sugar. In line with the 2030 sustainable development Agenda, the theme for 2019's World Food Day is Healthy Diets for a Zero Hunger world.In this program, we will talk to Indigenous people, to see how they contribute to Sustainable Development goal number two, which talks about ending hunger and achieving food security and improved nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Every year on June 26th, The International Day in Support of Victims against Torture is held, in an effort to speak out against the act of torture.
In this program we interview Martinus Fredericks and ask him about the long term consequences of torture. Mr Fredericks is from Namibia, his family members in the early 1900's were victims of torture.
It is world radio on February 13th, a day and according to the website diamundialradio.org, this is a day to celebrate radio as a medium, to improve international cooperation between broadcasters and to encourage major networks and community radio alike to promote access to information, freedom of expression and gender equality over the airwaves. We Interview the Programs Manager of X-K FM, a radio station set up specifically to broadcast in the !Xun and Khwe indigenous languages of Namibia/Angola/South Africa.
Between 1904 and 2004, the German state officially denied that genocide against the Indigenous Herero and Nama people in land that is now known as Namibia had ever occurred under German colonial rule, despite conclusive historical sources and internationally recognized investigations. Hear how communities are sorting through the painful legacy of this violence and indifference in the present in the following interview with Martinus Fredericks, Nama leader and activist.