Descendants of the genocide victims took to the streets of Windhoek to pay tribute to their ancestors in remembrance and honour of the lives lost during the 1904 to 1908 genocide.

The Ovaherero descendants marched from the UN Plaza in Katutura all the way to the Independence Memorial Site, where they laid a wreath.

They were dressed in military and traditional attire during the procession, where they sang songs and chanted phrases about justice and liberation.

Chief of the Zeraeua Traditional Authority, Manasse Zeraeua, said it is an important day to mourn the lives lost as well as to educate the youth about Namibia's history.

"We all say that if you don't know your history, you are just like a leaf that is being blown by the wind. If you don't know your past, you would hardly know your future. Therefore, this is a very important day for us to do that for our future generations and include the present one; they know what our ancestors went through when they were fighting to protect this country from falling into the hands of the German colonial troops and German colonial government."

During the laying of the wreath ceremony, leaders took turns to bow down and say a short prayer to show their respect.

A descendant of the genocide victims, Hirukevi Kaapama, said the Herero community is relieved that they have finally been given a day to mourn their ancestors and pass down valuable historical knowledge.

"Their bones are scattered all over Namibia, Botswana and South Africa, and this has never taken place when we mourn our people who lost their lives. And also to come together and discuss our problems of dispossession. Because our land has been dispossessed by the white colonialists."

The Ovaherero descendants proceeded to the Parliament Gardens, where they attended the first Genocide Remembrance Day.