Edmund Stuurman: Leading his Church Congregation and Keeping his Roots Intact

Mr. Edmund Stuurman (far left) is a community church leader who ought to give his thoughts and opinions on social and world issues.

Source: Mr. Edmund Stuurman

Chief Edmund Stuurman is a church congregation leader whose primary vision is to bring churches from all over Africa together, to learn about each other’s cultural history, and to tap and gain new knowledge on their roots.

He is the eight generational survivor of the Horse dispossession that took place in Southern Africa. Chief Stuurman currently still resides in the region where his ancestors went to war and plans to do big things in his community.

Recently he touched down in Limuru Kenya and visited a local church. Chief Stuurman spoke in front of the World Council of Judges, the World Commission of Reinformed Judges, and the National Council for Churches in Kenya as well as St. Paul’s University located in Limuru.

He gave a speech on his ancestors and their resistance against the British people who colonized South Africa. Chief Stuurman explained that he is of “Khwe” roots meaning ‘men of men’.

“We were not confused about who we were as humanity. The rock art in the caves that you can find all over Southern Africa, even beyond Namibia into Botswana. We say that those artifacts are our title deeds that can never be eroded.”

He also said before colonization there were no boundaries or fences and people lived freely. His ancestors were living as nomadic and would look for land to make a living on.

Mr. Stuurman also asked a profound question

“What right do we as humans have to claim ownership of the sea and the mountains? Who amongst us have the authority to dictate who may set foot on these natural wonders and who must be barred from them? How is it that we have come to a point when stepping onto a beach or climbing a mountain could lead to imprisonment for trespassing what is now to be considered private property? These were created by God for all of us”.

Mr. Stuurman indicated that everyone is equally entitled to the beauty of nature and the fight over land is leading to the collapse of ecosystems and these human actions have ultimately led to climate change.

Furthermore, he stated,

“If the equitable distribution of land resources is not addressed as a common good, we will all bear the blame, knowingly or unknowingly for leading the land to its untimely demise. Silence is no longer an option; it is time to stand up and be the voice of the voiceless. 

Churches will have to play a central role to keep these conversations alive and justice will have to be served through equality, stern action, and the healing of the lands of the ancestors.

Chief Edmund Stuurman is certainly a confident speaker who expresses his need to comment on world issues. He is an advocate for equality and restoring faith to the hopeless as well.