Ambassador Margaret Mensah-Williams of the Embassy of the Republic of Namibia was joined by leaders of the African diaspora and Washington diplomatic community to celebrate the life of His Excellency Dr. Hage G. Geingob, president of the Republic of Namibia. Geingob, who served as president since 2015, died in Namibia after a lengthy battle with cancer on Feb. 4.
The celebration was held at the University of the District of Columbia’s (UDC) Theater of the Arts on Saturday, Feb. 10.
“With the passing of H.E. Dr. Geingob, the people of Namibia have lost an icon of the liberation struggle, a diplomat par excellence, a true democrat, and distinguished leader who was dearly admired and loved by people from all walks of life,” said Ambassador Mensah-Williams.
President Joe Biden and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser sent letters of condolences to Dr. Geingob’s family and the Namibian people.
Mayor Bowser’s message recognized that “Dr. Geingob fought against the injustice and brutality of apartheid, and his role as the South West People’s Organization (SWAPO) Representative at the United Nations and to the Americas was critical to Namibia achieving its independence.”
During the celebration, H.E. Koby Koomson from the Republic of Ghana, the former Ambassador to the Republic of Namibia and the United States, described his close friend Geingob as a man who loved being around ordinary Namibians.
Koomson once asked President Geingob if he ever felt threatened in Namibia traveling without an army of security. Accordingly, Geingob replied “Any president who is afraid to engage and associate with his own people does not deserve the right to seek the mandate from the same people to be their president.”
Dr. Gloria Bozeman Herndon, who helped organize the ceremony, honored Geingob by reading “When Great Trees Fall” by Maya Angelou and thanked UDC president Edington for his support in hosting the celebration of Geingob’s life and legacy.