Hendrik Witbooi (Namaqua chief)

Hendrik Witbooi (c. 1825-1905) was a Chief of the Namaqua people, a subset of the Khoikhoi. He lived in present day Namibia.

Family & Early Life

The family of Hendrik Witbooi made its mark as important members of native Nama tribes. His grandfather, David Witbooi, was Chief of the tribe, who led the tribe across the Orange River into Namaland. His father, Moses Witbooi, was also a Chief of the tribe. His uncle, Jonker Afrikaner, was also a well-known Nama Chief, and opponent of Hendrik Witbooi. Jonker Afrikaner was in turn the son of the famous Jager Afrikaner. Hendrik Witbooi himself had seven sons and five daughters, including his son Isakk Witbooi.

Witbooi was born west of the Fish River in present-day Southern Namibia. He was educated as a Christian by German Lutheran missionaries, and was well-versed in many languages, including his native Nama and many European languages. He was a member of the Nama people, also known as the Khoikhoi. The Witbooi Nama were called such because of the "white scarves" worn on their hats.

The Witbooi Nama and other Nama tribes often fought amongst each other and with Herero tribes. After almost being killed in a conflict with the Hereros, he had a vision that he had been chosen by God to lead his people north.

Rise to Influence

Witbooi moved North on May 16, 1884, with a faction of the Witbooi tribe. This was against the wishes of his father, Moses, who remained opposed to Hendrik's plans. As evidenced from his diaries (which contain a large portion of the surviving documents of Witbooi,) he still admired his father greatly, in spite of their political difference. On February 22, 1887, Moses' chief rival, his subchief Paul Visser, had Moses killed and deposed. Hendrik retaliated on July 12, 1888, shooting Visser. This led to Hendrik becoming chief of the Witbooi people. He began to consolidate other Nama tribes under his control as well.

German Conflicts

In October 1904, after serving as a branch of the German army fighting against the Herero for the last three years, Witbooi and the Nama revolted against German rule in Namibia.

Witbooi was killed in 1905, at Tses. His dying request was that ""It is enough. The children should now have rest." He would be replaced by Fransman Nama until the Nama surrendered in 1908.

External links

*The Diaries of Hendrik Witbooi (ISBN 0-915118-12-2)