Title: The Nama under German colonial rule (1884–1904)
Subtitle: Between cooperation and conflict
Author: Michael Vaupel
Publisher: Namibia Scientific Society / Kuiseb Publishers
Windhoek, Namibia 2024
ISBN 9789994576968 / ISBN 978-99945-76-96-8
Softcover, 15 x 21 cm, 104 pages, 1 map, some b/w photographs
Colonial rule in German South West Africa, today's Namibia, lasted a relatively short time, namely from 1884 to 1915. During this period, the German Empire did not have unrestricted sovereignty over the entire territory; the Ovambo tribes in the far north never de facto came under German rule, while the different Herero and Nama tribes maintained a certain degree of autonomy until the major uprisings of 1904. Until then, relations between the individual tribes were characterized by pre-colonial rivalries, for example between the Herero and Nama, at least during most of Nama chief Jonker Afrikaner's time with his hegemonic ambitions.
There were, however, frequently changing constellations of alliances. Because of existing rivalries, the Herero and Nama groups did not unite against the encroaching German colonial rulers; even the major uprisings, starting in 1904, were not a coordinated action. As these uprisings led to the end of the relative autonomy of the different tribes, they became a central event in German colonial history in South West Africa: the tribal structures of the Herero and Nama tribes were dissolved, their tribal land was confiscated as crown land and large-scale cattle breeding was prohibited. Exceptions were only made for a few tribes that had not taken part in the uprisings. After the end of the major uprisings of 1904-1908, the Herero and Nama tribes were no longer able to play a prominent political role.
However, this was not the case for the two decades before 1904. This study deals with the different tribes of the Nama and investigates whether developments during the period from 1884 to 1904 inevitably had led to the major uprising of the Nama tribes. To put it another way: was there no way for the Nama to find some kind of arrangement with the colonial power that could have led, with some concessions, to an acceptable long-term, relatively autonomous development? The Nama under German colonial rule (1884–1904) attempts to answer this question by systematically analysing the period of German colonial rule before the major uprisings – with some surprising results.
Michael Vaupel is a German financial journalist and author. Born in 1974, he holds an M.A. in economics and history. While still a student, he worked as a freelance contributor for financial and news websites. He then completed an internship and became editor-in-chief of various financial newsletters (emerging markets, commodities, and derivatives). Ethical investing is important to him. He is troubled by the increasing disconnection of the derivatives market from the real economy. Michael Vaupel works as a freelance journalist and author on topics of history, renewable energy, and financial markets and is based in both Germany and Swakopmund, Namibia.
1. Introduction and objective
2. The Nama in pre-colonial times
2.1 Terms and definitions
2.2 The reasons for the Nama migrations and their routes
2.3 The social organization
2.3.1 The influence of the missionary societies
2.3.2 Power relations
2.4 The economy
2.4.1 Alternative sources for value creation
2.4.2 The impact of trade
2.5 The raids
3. Contact areas between Nama and Germans
3.1 The foundations
3.2 The land
3.3 The Protection Treaties
3.3.1 Attempts to instrumentalise the Germans
3.3.2 The influence of the missionaries
3.3.3 Refusal to enter into a treaty
3.4 The military
3.4.1 Reaction at tribal level
3.4.2 Military service of the Nama
3.5 The economy
3.5.1 Competition
3.5.2 New value creation opportunities
3.6 Personal contacts
3.6.1 Contacts at the level of decision-makers
3.6.2 Contacts at other levels
3.7 Jurisdiction
4. Collaboration and resistance
4.1 Collaboration
4.2 The resistance
Conclusion, final remarks, and alternatives
Photographs
List of sources and literature
I Archival records
II Printed sources
III Personal sources, memoirs, personal testimonies
IV Literature
