Diamond Warriors in Colonial Namibia

Title: Diamond Warriors in Colonial Namibia
Subtitle: Diamond Smuggling, Migrant Workers and Development in Owamboland
Author: Kanandjembo Job Shipululo Amupanda
Basel Namibia Studies Series, Vol 26
Publisher: Basler Afrika Bibliographien
Basel, Switzerland 2022
ISBN 9783906927459 / ISBN 978-3-906927-45-9
Softcover, 17 x 24 cm, 218 pages, several b/w images

About: Diamond Warriors in Colonial Namibia

Diamond Warriors in Colonial Namibia enters into unchartered scholarly territory of illegal diamond smuggling at the largest diamond mining company in colonial Namibia, De Beers’ Consolidated Diamond Mines of South West Africa (CDM). It details the underground activities of the migrant workers employed by the CDM and how these illicit activities accounted for rapid development in Owamboland. Beyond this account, Diamond Warriors in Colonial Namibia takes on the deterministic ‘natural resource curse’ theory that equates natural resource endowments to a curse resulting in underdevelopment and sometimes conflict. It is argued and proven herein, from a decolonial standpoint, that such an approach is an oversimplification of the political economy of natural resources in Africa in general and Namibia in particular. The book also provides a contextual account of the contract labour system and details the symbiotic relationship between the Consolidated Diamond Mines of South West Africa and the colonial state before highlighting the remaining unanswered questions and areas of further research.

Content: Diamond Warriors in Colonial Namibia

Abstract
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Acronyms
Explanation of terminology as used in this study
Acknowledgements
Dedication
Introduction
The 'Natural Resource Curse' Theory: Commissions, Omissions and Limitations
Research Methodology
The Natives and the Diamonds in Colonial Namibia—Methods, Strategies and Tactics for Smuggling Diamonds at CDM
The Diamond Supply and Demand Dynamics—Understanding the Portuguese Connection
The Diamond Rents in Owamboland—Concomitant Rapid Development by Unorthodox Means
Findings of the Study
Conclusion
References
Appendices
Appendix 1: Respondents Interviewed in 2017 for the Study
Appendix 2: Ethical Clearance Certificate
Appendix 3: Research Permission Letter
Appendix 4: Participant Information Sheet
Appendix 5: Informed Consent Form
Appendix 6: English-language Questionnaire for former CDM Employees
Appendix 7: Oshiwambo Questionnaire for Former CDM Employees
Appendix 8: Interview Questions for Mining/Diamond and Other Experts
Appendix 9: Interview Questions for Community Leaders; Activists and Other Leaders
Appendix 10: Interview Questions for CDM and Colonial State Officials
Appendix 11: Verification Questionnaire for De Beers Officials
Appendix 12: Verification Questionnaire for Oshakati Town Council Officials
Index