Baster

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Basters
The flag of the Rehoboth Basters

Total population	20,000-40,000
Regions with significant populations	Namibia, Lubango, Angola
Language	Afrikaans, English
Religion	Protestantism
Related ethnic groups	Coloureds, Khoikhoi, Namaqua, Griqua, Afrikaners

The Basters (also known as Baasters, Rehobothers or Rehoboth Basters) are the descendants of liaisons between the Cape Colony Dutch and indigenous African women. They largely live in Namibia and are similar to Coloured or Griqua people in South Africa.

The name Baster is derived from the Dutch word for ‘mixed race’ (or ‘crossbreed'). While some people consider this term pejorative, the Basters proudly use the term as an indication of their history in the same way as the Métis or "New People" of Canada. 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 faith). Known as "the last dregs of the Great Trek", most Basters see themselves as culturally white rather than black, still speak Afrikaans, sport Dutch names and take pride in being considered 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", designed a German influenced national flag and produced a constitution that continues to govern the actions of the Baster to the current day. While they remain predominantly 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 cooperation 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.

Basters

Many Basters continue to seek autonomy for their affairs and Baster nationalism is represented in the Namibian political process through the Rehoboth Freedom Party. Many Basters remain suspicious of the Namibian government, especially in the extension of suffrage to women; although not explicitly clear, the 1872 Constitution of the Baster Community does not provide for female leaders or women being given the vote. The tradition of the Basters can also be seen by the fact that they have had only three leaders (known as "Kapteins") since 1872; Hermanus van Wyk, the 'Moses' of the Baster nation who led the community to Rehoboth from South Africa, Johannes "Hans" Diergaardt and John McNab.

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 descendants of the people whose anti-colonialist rebellions the Baster helped to quell.