Hendrik Witbooi (Nama chief)
Nama chief who led revolts against German colonial rule.
Hendrik Witbooi (c.
- field
- Chief, military leader
- nationality
- Nama (ǀKhowesin)
- known_for
- Leading Nama revolts against German colonial rule; national hero of Namibia
Lore & Background
Hendrik Witbooi was born into a prominent Nama family; his grandfather David Witbooi and father Moses Witbooi were both chiefs. He was educated as a Lutheran by German missionary Johannes Olp and was well-versed in many languages, including his native Nama. After almost being killed in a conflict with the Herero, he had a vision that he had been chosen by God to lead his people north.
Reader's Guide
His diaries and correspondence, known as the Hendrik Witbooi Papers, are held in the National Archives of Namibia and were inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World International Register in 2005. He is honored as one of nine national heroes of Namibia at the Heroes' Acre near Windhoek.
Did You Know?
- Witbooi was also known by the Nama name ǃNanseb ǀGâbemab and the nickname Kort.
- He was educated at Rhenish Missionary and Wesleyan Methodist schools in Namibia and studied at the Wilberforce Institute in Evaton, South Africa.
- His dying request was: 'It is enough. The children should now have rest.'
More in Colonial And Post-Colonial Leaders 1-21
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record