Swartbooisdrift
Encyclopedia
Swartbooisdrift is a small settlement in Kunene Region
in the north of Namibia
. It is situated on the banks of the Kunene River
, directly at the Angola
n border on the minor road D3700 and falls within the Epupa electoral constituency
. Swartbooisdrift is populated by 150 - 300 semi-nomadic people of Himba
and Herero descent, depending on the season.
The settlement is named after Petrus Swartbooi, one of the tribal chief
captains of the Swartbooi Nama
who raided the area in the 1890s.
Swartbooisdrift has some historic significance as the place where Dorsland Trek
kers crossed the Kunene River in 1881 to move into Angola. In commemoration of this migratory movement the Dorsland Trekkers Monument has been erected on a hill just outside the settlement.
Swartbooisdrift was the administrative centre of the Kaokoland
from 1925 to 1939. Afterwards, administrative control of the area shifted to Ohopoho (today's Opuwo
). During that time a police station was operational at the settlement. From 1938 to 1942, the settlement was one of a number of guard posts set up on all shallow stretches of the Kunene to prevent the spread of cattle lung disease into Namibia.
Swartbooisdrift is a poor settlement with no access to electricity or clean water but features a clinic and a school. People live from subsistence cattle farming. There is a sodalite
mine to the east.
Kunene Region
Kunene is one of the thirteen regions of Namibia and home to the Himba ethnic group. Compared to the rest of Namibia, it is relatively underdeveloped...
in the north of 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...
. It is situated on the banks of the Kunene River
Cunene River
The Cunene River or Kunene River is a river in Southern Africa. It flows from the Angola highlands south to the border with Namibia. It then flows west along the border until it reaches the Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the few perennial rivers in the region. It is about long, with a drainage...
, directly at the Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
n border on the minor road D3700 and falls within the Epupa electoral constituency
Epupa Constituency
Epupa is a constituency in the Kunene Region of Namibia. Its population is 12,816. Epupa is also the location of the Epupa Falls, located on the Angolan-Namibian border. Epupa means "Falling Waters" in Otjiherero.- References :...
. Swartbooisdrift is populated by 150 - 300 semi-nomadic people of Himba
Himba
The Himba are an ethnic group of about 20,000 to 50,000 people living in northern Namibia, in the Kunene region . Recently they have built two villages in Kamanjab which have become tourist destinations...
and Herero descent, depending on the season.
The settlement is named after Petrus Swartbooi, one of the tribal chief
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 ...
captains of the Swartbooi Nama
Nama
Nama may mean:* Nama band, a Greek music group* Nama , a genus of plants in the family Hydrophyllaceae* Holy Name in Indian religions* Nama , a hero in ? folklore who built an ark to save his family from a flood...
who raided the area in the 1890s.
Swartbooisdrift has some historic significance as the place where Dorsland Trek
Dorsland Trek
Dorsland Trek is the collective name of a series of northwards explorations undertaken by South African settlers in the second half of the 19th century in search of political independence...
kers crossed the Kunene River in 1881 to move into Angola. In commemoration of this migratory movement the Dorsland Trekkers Monument has been erected on a hill just outside the settlement.
Swartbooisdrift was the administrative centre of the Kaokoland
Kaokoland
Kaokoland is an area in Northern Namibia, in the Kunene Region. It is one of the wildest and less populated areas in Namibia, with a population density of one person every 2 km², that is 1/4 of the national average. The most represented ethnic group is the Himba people, that accounts for...
from 1925 to 1939. Afterwards, administrative control of the area shifted to Ohopoho (today's Opuwo
Opuwo
Opuwo is the capital of the Kunene Region in north-western Namibia. The town is situated about 720 km north-northwest from the capital Windhoek, and has a population of 5,100...
). During that time a police station was operational at the settlement. From 1938 to 1942, the settlement was one of a number of guard posts set up on all shallow stretches of the Kunene to prevent the spread of cattle lung disease into Namibia.
Swartbooisdrift is a poor settlement with no access to electricity or clean water but features a clinic and a school. People live from subsistence cattle farming. There is a sodalite
Sodalite
Sodalite is a rich royal blue mineral widely enjoyed as an ornamental gemstone. Although massive sodalite samples are opaque, crystals are usually transparent to translucent...
mine to the east.
External links
- Wilkinsons World Picture of the Dorsland Trekkers Monument