Sam Nujoma, Namibia’s founding president who led the country to independence from apartheid-era South Africa, was laid to rest Saturday at Heroes’ Acre cemetery.
Dignitaries, including his widow, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, joined past and present African leaders to honor Nujoma’s legacy. Mourners described him as an African icon and a principled leader who defended the continent against colonial rule.
“On these hallowed grounds, the final resting place of Namibia’s heroes and heroines, we lay to rest a most distinguished son of the soil—a giant among leaders and a revolutionary icon,” said President Nangolo Mbumba.
Mourners from across the country gathered early at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek to pay their respects to Nujoma, who died two weeks ago at age 95.
Known as Namibia’s “founding father,” Nujoma rose from herding cattle as a boy to leading the nation’s independence struggle against apartheid South Africa. He was regarded as one of the last leaders of Africa’s anti-colonial movements.
“He is an epitome of the struggle for the liberation of the African person,” said Pendukeni Ithana, vice chairperson of the Sam Nujoma Foundation. “He is one of the few who stood up in the 1950s to fight against apartheid and racial discrimination.”
Nujoma served three terms as president from 1990 to 2005 and was widely credited with bringing peace and stability to Namibia. The country observed a 21-day mourning period, during which flags were flown at half-staff. His body was honored with a nationwide farewell as his remains were flown to seven regions, including his home village of Etunda in Okahao.
As his casket, draped in the Namibian flag, was lowered into the ground, a 21-gun salute was fired, and the Namibian Air Force conducted a flypast in tribute.