Nicola Brandt explores her mixed German-Namibian roots through photos made over ten years. She went across Namibia taking pictures of places, people and things that show links between German colonial rule, Nazi ideas and apartheid. Her book combines these images with writings from experts on photography, memory, and genocide studies. She wants readers to see past the usual ways people look at Namibia.
The author dug into her family records and public archives to find hidden stories. She tries to recover memories that others want forgotten. Her great-grandfather, Julius, came to German Southwest Africa in 1910 to work at a copper mine. He lived with his wife Klara until she became sick and died after returning to Germany. Five years after Julius arrived, World War I started, and South Africa took over the colony from Germany. The author notes how European women helped build colonial society through marriage and family life with settlers.
The author dug into her family records and public archives to find hidden stories. She tries to recover memories that others want forgotten. Her great-grandfather, Julius, came to German Southwest Africa in 1910 to work at a copper mine. He lived with his wife Klara until she became sick and died after returning to Germany. Five years after Julius arrived, World War I started, and South Africa took over the colony from Germany. The author notes how European women helped build colonial society through marriage and family life with settlers.
