Rule and Everyday Life in Pre-Colonial Central Namibia: The Herero and Damaraland in the 19th Century

In this first comprehensive study of the history of central Namibia in the 19th century, historian Dag Henrichsen explores the region's complex African history of everyday life and rule. Central Namibia experienced profound changes during this period – a pronounced impoverishment of its population around the middle of the century, shortly thereafter an impressive consolidation of the Herero as a prosperous pastoralist and modern rifle-wielding society, and simultaneously the emergence of the first Christian elite. The new Ovahona, such as Kamaharero, Zeraua, and Kambazembi, not only created an extensive territory, the ehi rOvaherero ("Land of the Ovaherero"), but also imposed new relationships of dependency on Damara society. Dag Henrichsen analyzes the exceptionally dynamic hegemonic position of the African pastoral nomads and addresses the outstanding importance of commercial capitalism expanding from the South African Cape Colony. The striking changes in everyday African life are presented, as is the self-image of African Christians at the mission stations of Otjimbingue, Okahandja, and Omaruru. Henrichsen anchors the beginning of German colonial rule in the region in an acute crisis of power, which led to early colonial rebellion by young Africans and the first Christian piety movement among African women.