The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Keetmanshoop played an important part behind the scenes in fighting racial segregation under the colonial apartheid regime.
Veteran preacher Andreas Biwa, who stood firm with the church in its fight against apartheid, narrated the church's contribution to the struggle.
Biwa recounted that the AME church was founded in 1946 after secession from the Rhenish Mission in order to oppose the apartheid regime, which sought to divide communities along racial and ethnic lines.
"The secession of the people in 1946 were for several reasons, number one, it was about education, it was about apartheid, it was about free movement and was about to free, to free as Namas, to be free as people of Namibia, South West Africa by then, there were constraints in certain circumstances, people did not have issues with the Rhenish Mission Church who came from Germany but during those days the apartheid regime came also 1945, the South Africa Government, the United Nations left us on the table, so Dr. Fredrich who was the leader who was later elected to represent Namibia , South West Africa in South Africa as an executive member, so when people came with resolutions, we want better education, we are evangelist but we want to become pastors please lift the level of the education, they could not because of they were bound to the apartheid regime, that's when people said no , we cannot be bounded by this things."
Through international conventions, church members connected with Namibians who went into exile to revolt against the apartheid regime.
"We have helped the politics. We were a word-class church, and we could fly over and discuss. I have said in the passing of our late president Geingob that I met him in New York City in 1972, and I gave certain information. So there are not only buildings, but we had monuments in people; that is what the AME church has made us."
Through its focus on education, the church helped shape generations of teachers, pastors and other professionals, opening doors to greater opportunities for the community.