A powerful new open-source book is breathing life into the memory of Windhoek’s Old Location, a vibrant township of Africans systematically destroyed by South Africa’s apartheid regime. Through poignant photographs and personal testimonies, “The Windhoek Old Location” documents the community’s rich cultural life and the profound trauma of its forced removal in 1959. This erasure, which culminated in a deadly protest, became a pivotal turning point that birthed SWAPO and fueled Namibia’s liberation struggle. The book movingly captures the duality of this history, showcasing scenes of joy, solidarity, and bustling daily life alongside the pain of displacement. By sharing these stories, the project serves as an essential antidote to forgetting, honoring the resilience of its residents and ensuring that this crucial chapter of resistance and community is not lost to time.
The Conversation
