Namibia Relocates Statue of Controversial Colonial Officer

October 20, 2021

2 minutes read

Namibia Relocates Statue of Controversial Colonial Officer

Authorities in Windhoek, Namibia, have removed and relocated a statue of Curt von Francois, a controversial German colonial officer, following pressure from local activists. The monument, which commemorated von Francois, was situated outside municipal buildings and depicted him in military attire, complete with a sword and a large hat.

Hildegard Titus, an activist from the A Curt Farewell movement that advocated for the statue’s removal, expressed that this moment signifies a restoration of dignity. She noted, “Our city has been white-washed,” emphasizing the need for historical accuracy regarding von Francois’s role in the city’s founding, which many local historians dispute.

The Windhoek City Council announced that the statue would be transferred to the Windhoek City Museum, where it will be displayed with context explaining its historical significance. Aaron Nambadi, a curator at the museum, stated, “We as historians and curators were involved in this project to correct the false narrative that von Francois was the founder of the city.”

Germany colonized Namibia from 1884 to 1915, during which time significant atrocities occurred. Between 1904 and 1908, German settlers were responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of indigenous Herero and Nama people in what many historians describe as the first genocide of the 20th century. Last year, Germany officially acknowledged this genocide and committed over one billion euros in financial support to the descendants of the victims, though many Namibians feel they were inadequately represented in the negotiations.

The removal of the von Francois statue follows a broader trend in Africa and around the world, where monuments honoring colonial figures have been challenged, including the beheading of a statue of Cecil Rhodes in South Africa during protests triggered by George Floyd’s death.

Share:
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Related Links

West African

West African Insurers Urged to Unite Against Climate Risks

Doris Uzoka-Anite, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Finance, has called for stronger regional collaboration among ...

Education

Nigeria Eases University Admission Rules for Arts Students

The Federal Ministry of Education in Nigeria has announced a major reform, removing the mandatory ...

D’Angelo’s

D’Angelo’s Legacy: Soul Icon Passes at 51

Renowned soul and R&B artist D’Angelo, born Michael D’Angelo Archer, passed away at 51 after ...

World Cup

Super Eagles Crush Benin 4-0 in World Cup Qualifier

Nigeria’s Super Eagles delivered a commanding 4-0 victory against Benin’s Cheetahs in a crucial 2026 ...

Features

Countries Aircraft

African Countries with the Largest Military Aircraft Fleets in 2025

Africa’s military aircraft fleets are key for defense, surveillance, and peacekeeping. In 2025, several nations ...

Countries

Top 10 African Countries with Best Salaries in 2025

Africa’s job market is growing fast. In 2025, some countries offer great pay. This list ...

Kanye West

New Documentary Explores Kanye West’s Turbulent Journey

A new documentary, In Whose Name?, directed by Nico Ballesteros, offers an intimate look at ...

japa

Top 9 African Countries Sending Immigrants to the United States

Africa’s influence in the United States continues to expand through immigration. Many individuals from the ...

GOLD_3_6

Top 10 Countries Benefiting from Gold Trading in 2025

Gold trading drives wealth for nations with large reserves. In 2025, countries with significant gold ...

FNB-Stadium

Top 10 Most Expensive Stadiums in Africa for 2025

Africa’s sports infrastructure shines with world-class stadiums built for football, rugby, and major events. These ...

Gold

Top Gold-Producing Countries in Africa for 2025

Africa remains a global leader in gold production, contributing significantly to the world’s supply. In ...

digital-nomad-visa

Top 10 Digital Nomad Visa Countries for 2025

As remote work continues to thrive, digital nomad visas offer professionals the chance to live ...

Latest News

Today in History

Error: cURL error 28: Connection timed out after 5001 milliseconds

Exchange Rate Per Dollar

AM Armenian Dram382.6224
GH Ghana Cedi12
GM Gambian Dalasi73
GN Guinea Franc8,675
NG Nigerian Naira₦1,462.65
CF CFA Franc BEAC565.2341
14 Oct · CurrencyRate · USD
CurrencyRate.Today
Check: 14 Oct 2025 19:05 UTC
Latest change: 14 Oct 2025 19:00 UTC
API: CurrencyRate
Disclaimers. This plugin or website cannot guarantee the accuracy of the exchange rates displayed. You should confirm current rates before making any transactions that could be affected by changes in the exchange rates.
You can install this WP plugin on your website from the WordPress official website: Exchange Rates🚀

YOUR THOUGHTS

Let us know what you think

Contact the People’s Paper with feedback on stories and how we could make wapress.africa even better!

newsletter image

Stay up to date with the latest from West Africa Press

Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on WApress.

Subscribe Newsletter!

Be the first to receive our latest contents and more...

Need help?