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Basters
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{{EngvarB|date=August 2023}} {{Short description|Southern African ethnic group}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}} {{redir|Baster|the kitchen utensil|Basting (cooking)}} {{Infobox ethnic group| | group = Basters | image = [[Image:Rehobothflag.svg|300px]] | image_caption = Flag of the Rehoboth Basters | pop = 45,629 (2023 Census)<ref name="Census2023">{{cite web|url=https://census.nsanamibia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2023-Population-and-Housing-Census-Main-Report-28-Oct-2024.pdf|title=Namibia 2023 Population and Housing Census Main Report|publisher=Namibia Statistics Agency|access-date=2024-10-30}}</ref> | popplace = [[Namibia]] | rels = [[Christianity in Africa|Protestantism]] | langs = [[Afrikaans]] | related = [[Afrikaners]], [[Coloureds]], [[Nama people|Nama]] ([[Oorlam]]), [[Griqua people|Griqua]] }} The '''Basters''' (also known as '''Baasters''', '''Rehobothers''', or '''Rehoboth Basters''') are a [[Southern Africa]]n ethnic group descended from [[Cape Coloureds]] and [[Nama people|Nama]] of [[Khoisan]] origin. Since the second half of the 19th century, the Rehoboth Baster community has been concentrated in central [[Namibia]], in and around the town of [[Rehoboth, Namibia|Rehoboth]]. Basters are closely related to [[Afrikaners]], Cape Coloureds, and [[Griqua people|Griquas]] of [[South Africa]] and [[Namibia]], with whom they share a largely [[Afrikaner culture|Afrikaner]]-influenced culture and [[Afrikaans|Afrikaans language]]. Other groups of similar mixed ethnic origin, living chiefly in the Northern Cape, also refer to themselves as Basters. The name ''Baster'' is derived from "bastaard", the Dutch word for "[[Legitimacy (family law)|bastard]]" or "mongrel". While some people consider this term demeaning, the Basters [[Reappropriation|reappropriated]] it as an [[ethnonym]], in spite of the negative connotation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=A Concise History of the Rehoboth Basters until 1990|last1=Britz|first1=Rudolf|last2=Lang|first2=Hartmut|last3=Limpricht|first3=Corenlia|publisher=Klaus Hess Publisher|year=1999|isbn=9991674713|location=Rehoboth|pages=12}}</ref> Their 7th Kaptein is Jacky Britz, elected in 2021;<ref name="Jason">{{Cite news | title=Britz elected Baster Kaptein β¦Van Wyk cries foul | last=Jason | first=Loide | newspaper=[[New Era (Namibia)|New Era]] | date=26 April 2021 | url=https://neweralive.na/posts/britz-elected-baster-kaptein}}</ref> he has no official status under the Namibian constitution. The Chief's Council of Rehoboth was replaced with a local town council under the new government. 45,629 Namibians identified as Basters in the 2023 Census.<ref name="Census2023">{{cite web|url=https://census.nsanamibia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2023-Population-and-Housing-Census-Main-Report-28-Oct-2024.pdf|title=Namibia 2023 Population and Housing Census Main Report|publisher=Namibia Statistics Agency|access-date=2024-10-30}}</ref> Survival of the Baster culture and identity have been called into question in modern Namibia. Modern Namibia's politics and public life are largely dominated by the ethnic [[Ovambo people|Ovambo]] and their culture. Baster politicians and activists have called Ovambo policies oppressive towards their community.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newera.com.na/articles/50491/-Rehoboth-community-in-danger-of-extinction-|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130413155926/http://www.newera.com.na/articles/50491/-Rehoboth-community-in-danger-of-extinction-|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 April 2013|title=Rehoboth community in danger of extinction|last=Nunuhe|first=Margreth|date=18 February 2013|work=[[New Era (Namibia)]]}}</ref>
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