Whites in Namibia
Encyclopedia
White Namibians are people of Europe
an or Southern Africa
n birth or descent living in Namibia
. Most white Namibians are Afrikaners, while some are descended from German, Portuguese
, or English
immigrants.
has by far the largest white population. Coastal cities such as Walvis Bay
, Swakopmund
and Lüderitz
also have large white populations. The white population make up the majority in Swakopmund
. In general most of Namibia south of Windhoek has a high proportion of whites, while central Namibia has a high concentration of whites. Apart from Windhoek, Coastal Areas and Southern Namibia, there are large white communities in Otjiwarongo
and towns in the Otavi Triangle, such as Tsumeb
and Grootfontein
. The 1981 census of the Republic of South Africa reported a white population of 76,430 in Namibia (71 percent Afrikaners and 17 percent German-speaking).
. While the area was known as South West Africa
, white Namibians enjoyed a highly privileged position due to apartheid laws enforcing strict segregation and white domination.
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an or Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
n birth or descent living in 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...
. Most white Namibians are Afrikaners, while some are descended from German, Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
, or English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
immigrants.
Distribution
The vast majority of White Namibians live in major cities and towns in central or southern Namibia. WindhoekWindhoek
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...
has by far the largest white population. Coastal cities such as Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay , is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies...
, Swakopmund
Swakopmund
Swakopmund is a city on the coast of northwestern Namibia, west of Windhoek, Namibia's capital. It is the capital of the Erongo administrative district. As a seaside resort, the weather is cooler here in December to January so the territorial administration moves to Swakopmund for these months...
and Lüderitz
Lüderitz
Lüderitz is a harbour town in south-west Namibia, lying on one of the least hospitable coasts in Africa. It is a port developed around Robert Harbour and Shark Island.- Overview :...
also have large white populations. The white population make up the majority in Swakopmund
Swakopmund
Swakopmund is a city on the coast of northwestern Namibia, west of Windhoek, Namibia's capital. It is the capital of the Erongo administrative district. As a seaside resort, the weather is cooler here in December to January so the territorial administration moves to Swakopmund for these months...
. In general most of Namibia south of Windhoek has a high proportion of whites, while central Namibia has a high concentration of whites. Apart from Windhoek, Coastal Areas and Southern Namibia, there are large white communities in Otjiwarongo
Otjiwarongo
Otjiwarongo is a city of 20,000 inhabitants in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia. It is the district capital of the Otjiwarongo electoral constituency and also the capital of Otjozondjupa....
and towns in the Otavi Triangle, such as Tsumeb
Tsumeb
Tsumeb is a city of 15,000 inhabitants and the largest town in Oshikoto region in northern Namibia. Tsumeb is the home of the world-famous Tsumeb mine, and the "gateway to the north" of Namibia. It is the closest town to the Etosha National Park...
and Grootfontein
Grootfontein
Grootfontein is a city of 14,200 inhabitants in the Otjozondjupa Region of central Namibia. It is one of the three towns in the Otavi Triangle, situated on the B8 national road that leads from Windhoek to the Caprivi Strip...
. The 1981 census of the Republic of South Africa reported a white population of 76,430 in Namibia (71 percent Afrikaners and 17 percent German-speaking).
History
During Namibia's short German rule, the colony attracted German immigrants. Most Afrikaners settled during numerous treks, as well as during the apartheid years. Most Portuguese settled after Angola became independent in 1975.Economics
About 4,000 commercial land owners, mostly whites, own over 50% of the arable land across the country despite a land reform processLand reform in Namibia
Land reform is an important political and economic topic in Namibia. It consists of two different strategies: resettlement, and transfer of commercially viable agricultural land. Resettlement is aimed at improving the lives of displaced or dispossessed previously disadvantaged Namibians...
. While the area was known as South West Africa
South West Africa
South-West Africa was the name that was used for the modern day Republic of Namibia during the earlier eras when the territory was controlled by the German Empire and later by South Africa....
, white Namibians enjoyed a highly privileged position due to apartheid laws enforcing strict segregation and white domination.
Notable white Namibians
Politicians
- Leon JoosteLeon JoosteLeon Jooste is a Namibian politician and businessperson. A member of SWAPO, he was appointed to replace Gerhard Tötemeyer in the National Assembly of Namibia. In 2005, he was elected on the SWAPO Party list and appointed as the Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism in Hifikepunye Pohamba's...
- Anton LubowskiAnton LubowskiAnton Theodor Eberhard August Lubowski was a Namibian advocate and SWAPO member assassinated by operatives of South Africa’s Civil Cooperation Bureau.-Education and early life:...
- Dirk MudgeDirk MudgeDirk Frederik Mudge is a Namibian farmer and former politician. He was a member of the Constituent Assembly and first National Assembly from 1989-1994. He broke with the National Party and sided with the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia...
- Henk MudgeHenk MudgeHenk Mudge is a Namibian former politician. He is the former President of the Republican Party and formerly the party's only member in the National Assembly. He was replaced in the National Assembly by Clara Gowases....
- Kosie PretoriusKosie PretoriusJacobus Willem Francois Pretorius, commonly known as Kosie Pretorius , is a Namibian politician. He is the Chairman of the Monitor Action Group party, which mainly represents conservative white Namibians, and was a member of the National Assembly of Namibia from 1990 to 2005.-Early life and...
- Hans Erik StabyHans Erik StabyHans Erik Staby was a Namibian politician and one of the country's leading architects. A German Namibian, Staby was a member of the National Assembly of Namibia from the Constituent Assembly prior to independence in 1989 until resignation in 1997 with the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance...
- Jan de WetJan de WetJohannes Marthinus de Wet was a Namibian politician and farmer.-Politics:De Wet entered politics as a member of the South African Parliament from 1964-70. He then became the Commissioner General of Indigenous People from 1970-78...
Sportspeople
- Skipper BadenhorstSkipper BadenhorstSkipper Badenhorst is a rugby union player for the Central Cheetahs in the Super 14 competition and Namibia. He plays as a hooker.-Career:...
- Monica DahlMonica DahlMonica Anja Dahl is a Namibian swimmer. Dahl competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics and 1996 Summer Olympics for Namibia.-References:...
- Trevor DoddsTrevor DoddsTrevor George Dodds is a Namibian professional golfer.Dodds was born in Windhoek, Namibia. He turned pro in 1985. He won the Canadian Tour Order of Merit in 1995 and 1996...
- Jörg LindemeierJörg LindemeierJörg Lindemeier is a Namibian swimmer. Lindemeier competed at the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics for Namibia.-References:...
- Percy MontgomeryPercy MontgomeryPercival Colin "Percy" Montgomery is a retired South African rugby union player...
- Friedhelm SackFriedhelm SackFriedhelm Ferdinand Sack is a Namibian sport shooter. He competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics, 2000 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Olympics for his country. He is affiliated with the Windhoek Central Shooting Club....
- Quinton-Steele BotesQuinton-Steele BotesQuinton-Steele Botes is a Namibian Sport Consultant. He received an award for sporting excellence from the International Olympic Committee in 2003 in recognition of his promotion of athletics in Namibia...
- Oliver RisserOliver RisserOliver Risser is a Namibian international footballer of German descent. He plays for Swindon Town, where he is captain...
See also
- German NamibiansGerman NamibiansGerman Namibians are a community of people descended from ethnic German colonists who settled in present-day Namibia. In 1883, the German trader Adolf Lüderitz bought what would become the southern coast of Namibia and founded the city of Lüderitz...
- Monitor Action GroupMonitor Action GroupThe Monitor Action Group is a political party in Namibia. The party is based among conservative White Namibians, with most of the top leadership having served in the government of apartheid South West Africa...
- Republican PartyRepublican Party (Namibia)The Republican Party was a political party in Namibia, based among the white minority. Henk Mudge is its President and its sole representative in the National Assembly. Prior to the 2004 parliamentary election, the Republican Party was part of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance . It was revived as...