Reparative justice for the herero : a missiological-diaconal perspective on healing historical injustice

Abstract

This paper examines the Herero genocide (1904–1908) in German South West Africa (present-day Namibia) through a missiological-diaconal lens, advocating for reparations as a matter of biblical justice and healing. Beyond the mass killings, the genocide's legacy includes the enslavement of survivors, a historical injustice with enduring parallels to modern-day slavery. Critiquing the inadequacies of the Joint Declaration between Germany and Namibia, the paper emphasizes the necessity of inclusive, Herero-led reparative processes that address material losses, cultural erosion, and intergenerational trauma, including the ongoing impact of forced labour and dispossession. By drawing on scriptural mandates for restitution and acknowledging the Church's historical complicity, this analysis argues for a transformative role for the Church in advocating for truth, justice, and reconciliation. The Herero experience offers crucial lessons for the Church in confronting both historical injustices and contemporary forms of slavery, highlighting the imperative to reclaim dignity, address structural inequities, and foster solidarity.