Basters

The Basters (also known as Baasters or Rehoboth Basters) are the descendents of liaisons between the Cape Colony Dutch and indigenous African women. The name Baster is derived from the Dutch word for ‘mixed race’ (or ‘bastard’). While some people consider this term to be racist, the Basters proudly use the term as an indication of their history. Heavily Calvinist, Basters sing hymns identical to those heard in seventeenth century Netherlands and the religious fervour of the Basters is clear from their motto: "Groei in Geloof" (Grow in your faith). Known as "the last dregs of the Great Trek", most Basters see themselves as white rather than black, still speak Afrikaans, sport Dutch names and take pride in considered being more Dutch than the Dutch.

The Basters left their original home in the Cape Colony in 1868 to trek northwards in search of land and settled in Rehoboth (in what is now central Namibia). In 1872, the Basters founded "The Free Republic of Rehoboth” and designed a German influenced national flag. While they remain predominately based around Rehoboth, some Basters continued to trek northward, settling in the southern Angolan city of Lubango, where they are known as the Ouivamo (many of these were forced to return to Namibia between 1928 and 1930 by white South Africans, who couldn't understand why their illiterate and deeply religious cousins wanted to live amongst the `savages’).

Following the German annexation of German South-West Africa, the Basters worked with the German colonialists and fought on the German side during the Herero Wars. As a result, they were able to keep their land and cattle while the Nama and the Herero were stripped of their rights and shipped off to Concentration camps. The collaboration between the Basters and the German Empire ended on 8 May 1915 when Germany declared war on the Basters following the Basters refusal to assist the German war effort in World War I. Considering themselves South African, the Basters offered to serve with the South African forces during the war but were rebuffed by General Louis Botha, who said that coloureds should not concern themselves with a war between South Africa and Germany.

Some Basters continue to push the legitimacy of The Free Republic of Rehoboth. It is claimed the republic was recognised by the League of Nations and that according to international law, the Republic should retain the status of a sovereign nation. In 1952, the Basters presented a petition to the United Nations to this effect, with no visible result. In 1979, South Africa offered the Basters self determination if they fought against South-West Africa People's Organisation, the Namibian independence movement. The Basters refused, deciding to remain neutral and settling instead for a semi-autonomous Baster homeland (known as “Baster Gebiet”) based around Rehoboth, similar to the South African Bantustans. Baster Gebiet would exist until 29 July 1989 and the imminent independence of Namibia.

Many Basters continue to seek autonomy for their affairs and Baster nationalism is represented in the Namibian political process through the Rehoboth Freedom Party. While the current numbers of Basters remain unclear (figures between 20 000 and 40 000 are given), the Basters are concerned that their unique heritage will be lost in a modern Namibia led by the descendents of the people whose anti-colonialist rebellions the Baster helped to quell.