Hendrik Samuel Witbooi
Encyclopedia
Captain Hendrik Samuel Witbooi, Nama name: ǃGae-nûb ǃnagamâb ǃNansemab, (1 June 1906 – 29 July 1978) was the sixth Kaptein
of the ǀKhowesin, a subtribe of the Orlam, in the area of South-West Africa (SWA), today's Namibia
. He was born in Gibeon; Hendrik Witbooi
was his grandfather. He was selected to be the successor of his uncle David Witbooi who died in 1955.
Together with Hosea Kutako
, Samuel Witbooi was involved in the drafting of a petition to the United Nations
in 1947 to put Namibia under British trusteeship. The petition was signed at the occasion of the 1947 Herero Day
gathering and subsequently presented to the UN by Reverend Michael Scott, because neither Kutako nor Witbooi were allowed to leave South-West African territory. In 1956, Witbooi addressed the UN again, "on behalf of the non-European inhabitants of SWA". The results were that the UN rejected a request to divide South-West Africa and allocate its southern parts permanently to South Africa
. They also extended their own mandate on South-West Africa for one more year.
Witbooi was a strong challenger of the South Africa
n system of Bantu Education which deprived black learners of an appropriate access to education. He then established the African Methodist Episcopal Church Private School which used English as medium of instruction. He was a strong opponent of the South African Homeland policy. Furthermore he aggressively opposed the enforced resettlement of the ǃGami-ǂnun (Bondelswarts) from the Warmbad
area to Gibeon. Throughout November 1967 he advised the ǃGami-ǂnun in Warmbad to reject any South African resettlement plans. Witbooi joined SWAPO in 1977 but died not long after that, in 1978. Hendrik Witbooi, Jr.
succeeded him as chief of the ǀKhowesin.
Hendrik Samuel Witbooi is regarded a hero of the Namibian struggle for independence
. He is known for the quote
which resulted in a criminal charge laid against him by the South African administration. Outside Windhoek
's Tintenpalast
there is a statue of him.
Tribal chief
A tribal chief is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies with social stratification under a single leader emerged in the Neolithic period out of earlier tribal structures with little stratification, and they remained prevalent throughout the Iron Age.In the case of ...
of the ǀKhowesin, a subtribe of the Orlam, in the area of South-West Africa (SWA), today's Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
. He was born in Gibeon; Hendrik Witbooi
Hendrik Witbooi (Namaqua chief)
Hendrik Witbooi was a king of the Namaqua people, a sub-tribe of the Khoikhoi. He lived in present day Namibia. His face is portrayed on the obverse of all Namibian dollar banknotes.-Names:...
was his grandfather. He was selected to be the successor of his uncle David Witbooi who died in 1955.
Together with Hosea Kutako
Hosea Kutako
Chief Hosea Kutako was an early Namibian nationalist leader and member of the South West African People's Organization. Kutako, alongside Rev. Michael Scott led petitions to the United Nations which eventually led to the recognition of Namibia's status as a sovereign country under colonial control...
, Samuel Witbooi was involved in the drafting of a petition to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in 1947 to put Namibia under British trusteeship. The petition was signed at the occasion of the 1947 Herero Day
Herero Day
Herero Day is a gathering of the Herero people of Namibia to commemorate their deceased chieftains. It is held annually on the Sunday closest to August 23, the day on which Herero chief Samuel Maharero's body was returned to Okahandja in 1923. Maharero was eventually reburied in Okahandja...
gathering and subsequently presented to the UN by Reverend Michael Scott, because neither Kutako nor Witbooi were allowed to leave South-West African territory. In 1956, Witbooi addressed the UN again, "on behalf of the non-European inhabitants of SWA". The results were that the UN rejected a request to divide South-West Africa and allocate its southern parts permanently to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. They also extended their own mandate on South-West Africa for one more year.
Witbooi was a strong challenger of the South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n system of Bantu Education which deprived black learners of an appropriate access to education. He then established the African Methodist Episcopal Church Private School which used English as medium of instruction. He was a strong opponent of the South African Homeland policy. Furthermore he aggressively opposed the enforced resettlement of the ǃGami-ǂnun (Bondelswarts) from the Warmbad
Warmbad, Namibia
Warmbad is a settlement located in the Karas Region of southern Namibia. It is situated south of Karasburg at the Homs River, close to the border with South Africa, and belongs to the Karasburg electoral constituency.First occupied by traders, hunters, and missionaries of different congregations,...
area to Gibeon. Throughout November 1967 he advised the ǃGami-ǂnun in Warmbad to reject any South African resettlement plans. Witbooi joined SWAPO in 1977 but died not long after that, in 1978. Hendrik Witbooi, Jr.
Hendrik Witbooi (politician)
Reverend Hendrik H. Witbooi was a Namibian politician and traditional chieftain. A member of SWAPO from 1976 until his death, Witbooi brought with him several clans of Namaqua into the liberation organization...
succeeded him as chief of the ǀKhowesin.
Hendrik Samuel Witbooi is regarded a hero of the Namibian struggle for independence
Namibian War of Independence
See also South African Border War.The Namibian War of Independence, also known as the South African Border War, which lasted from 1966 to 1988, was a guerrilla war, which the nationalist South-West Africa People's Organization and others, fought against the apartheid government in South...
. He is known for the quote
"I don't want to possess a part of our country — I want to have the whole Namibia."
which resulted in a criminal charge laid against him by the South African administration. Outside Windhoek
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
's Tintenpalast
Tintenpalast
The Tintenpalast is the seat of both chambers of the Namibian legislature, the National Council and the National Assembly...
there is a statue of him.
External links
- zwanzig.com Picture of the Witbooi statue in Windhoek