Namibia renames street after Jamaican icon and Pan African leader, Marcus Garvey

Namibia has renamed one of its streets after Jamaica’s first national hero, Dr Marcus Garvey.

The event was held during the visit of Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who was in Namibia to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries.

“Naming a street in this capital city of Windhoek in honour of Marcus Garvey represents a demonstration of posterity of the value of the contribution of one who has played a lead role in countering negative appellations forced on black people in Africa and the Diaspora,” Holness said.

Namibia had voted to rename the Babs Street after Garvey in January, 2018.

“The renaming of a street in Windhoek in honour of the late Garvey is anticipated to give a tremendous boost in the relations between Namibia and Jamaica and to serve as a permanent reminder to citizens of both countries of where our forefathers have come from and where the next generation needs to go so as to merge the two nations as they are vying for their rightful place in the new world order,” a statement by the government read.

The street was selected because it houses the office of the Jamaican consulate and connects to the street named after Jamaica’s first female Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller.

Holness welcomed the move, saying that it is a way of re-establishing bonds of black people across the world.

“It is a symbol of our geo-cultural and spiritual unification. Further, it is important for those of us African peoples dispersed far afield in places like the Caribbean and the Americas to have the opportunity to join in a gesture that re-establishes the original bonds of family and shared destinies. It is a truly good feeling that augurs well for ongoing and future collaboration.”

The two countries also agreed on a visa fee waiver programme and agreed to work on improving trade, investment, sports and culture