Am 12. Januar 1904 brach in Namibia ein Krieg zwischen der deutschen Kolonialverwaltung und grossen Teilen der lokalen Bevölkerung aus - ein Krieg, der später als Herero-Krieg in die Annalen der... Show moreAm 12. Januar 1904 brach in Namibia ein Krieg zwischen der deutschen Kolonialverwaltung und grossen Teilen der lokalen Bevölkerung aus - ein Krieg, der später als Herero-Krieg in die Annalen der Kolonialgeschichte eingehen sollte. Dieses Kapitel versucht in dichter Beschreibung der Ereignisse unmittelbar vor und nach Ausbruch des Krieges sowie durch die konsequente Durchleuchtung individueller Handlungsrationalität das Augenmerk weg von strukturellen Ursachen des Krieges hin zu unmittelbaren Auslösern der Gewalt zu lenken. Es wird gezeigt, dass der Krieg nicht das Resultat eines länger geplanten Aufstandes der Herero gegen die deutsche Kolonialherrschaft war. Der Krieg war eine unmittelbare Folge der Siedlerparanoia in Verbindung mit der Inkompetenz und Panik eines deutschen Offiziers (Zürn). Fussnoten. [Zusammenfassung ASC Leiden] Show less
Following a brief description of the Herero genocide of 1904/1907, this chapter provides a chronological overview of the way in which the Herero have sought to draw the world's attention to the... Show moreFollowing a brief description of the Herero genocide of 1904/1907, this chapter provides a chronological overview of the way in which the Herero have sought to draw the world's attention to the crimes committed by imperial Germany in Namibia. Calls for recompensation revolve in the end around the issue of German government responsibility. That is, to what extent were the Herero genocide and related atrocities the product of German policy? To what extent were the criminal acts not merely the actions of individuals? Material presented in this chapter shows that the Herero genocide and associated atrocities were indeed officially sanctioned. During the Herero-German war, the German settlers and soldiers carried out a shoot-to-kill policy, conducted extrajudicial killings, established concentration camps, employed forced labour, and in at least two cases, established death camps. After the war, the loss of Herero liberty, land and stock was officially sanctioned in legislation. At no stage after 1904 were any German settlers or soldiers brought to justice for genocidal acts committed in Namibia between 1904 and 1908. Bibliogr., notes [ASC Leiden abstract] Show less
This introductory chapter sketches globalization and Africa in broad theoretical terms, examining the meaning of the term globalization; the impact of globalization on daily life in Africa in... Show moreThis introductory chapter sketches globalization and Africa in broad theoretical terms, examining the meaning of the term globalization; the impact of globalization on daily life in Africa in economic as well as sociocultural terms; globalization as a historical phenomenon; the political aspects of globalization; its spatial dynamics: migration and transmigration, and the relationship of transnationalism with the emergence of new religious forms; and the contribution of anthropology to the field of globalization studies. Bibliogr., notes, ref. [ASC Leiden abstract] Show less
It has been argued that Africa has been sidelined in the global ICT revolution and that African societies appear to be cut off from global flows of information. Nevertheless, the manner in which... Show moreIt has been argued that Africa has been sidelined in the global ICT revolution and that African societies appear to be cut off from global flows of information. Nevertheless, the manner in which war was waged in Somalia between 1991 and 1994 indicates that this global revolution has affected the manner in which war has come to be waged in Africa. African societies may indeed be cut off from owning and controlling the streams of images that reflect their continent, but they may, however, at times come to temporarily hijack and divert this stream of images, and ensure that images that support or reinforce their political aims come to be released into the global flow. In the case of Somalia, the real-time images of dead US soldiers being dragged through the streets of Mogadishu were sufficient to make the United States end their involvement in Somalia. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Book abstract] Show less
Between 1904 and 1908 imperial Germany pursued an active policy of genocide in German South West Africa, present-day Namibia. This chapter analyses the manner in which, during the course of the... Show moreBetween 1904 and 1908 imperial Germany pursued an active policy of genocide in German South West Africa, present-day Namibia. This chapter analyses the manner in which, during the course of the twentieth century, numerous people in varying contexts have sought to use the genocide perpetrated upon the Herero to further their own ends. It charts the manner in which a historical event has come to be deployed for varying and, at times, contradictory interests by German social democrats and English imperialists through to anti-Apartheid activists and postcolonial tribalists. It has been used to strengthen arguments that range from colonial policies through to claims that call for ethnic autonomy and compensation. Notes, ref., sum. [Book abstract] Show less
Between 1904 and 1908 imperial German troops committed genocide in German South West Africa, present-day Namibia. African survivors of the war were cruelly treated, placed in camps and put to work... Show moreBetween 1904 and 1908 imperial German troops committed genocide in German South West Africa, present-day Namibia. African survivors of the war were cruelly treated, placed in camps and put to work as forced labourers. This paper addresses the question of why German soldiers and settlers committed these atrocities. It argues that they were never directly ordered to commit such atrocities; instead, a social space was created in the central and southern Namibia of 1904-1908 in which the atrocities were deemed acceptable. In Germany, the concept of a German Empire with colonies developed to such an extent that it came to be seen as a necessity, a 'natural' destiny of Germany. However, the reality of the colony did not reflect the idealized image of German settlers and soldiers. In addition, events in China had indicated to German soldiers that the transgression of the limits of correct behaviour in a war situation was legitimated by the highest authority, the Kaiser. These factors, combined with the dreadful circumstances in which German volunteers found themselves in Namibia, contributed to the crimes committed. Bibliogr., notes, ref. [ASC Leiden abstract] Show less
The colonial conquest of Namibia was extremely brutal. Repressive controls continued in the decades that followed as exemplified by the South African colonial administration's regulation of the... Show moreThe colonial conquest of Namibia was extremely brutal. Repressive controls continued in the decades that followed as exemplified by the South African colonial administration's regulation of the production and consumption of alcohol by the territory's black African inhabitants. Nonetheless, the colonial State's policies were inconsistent and vigorously opposed at every turn by differing sections of the black population. In this chapter, the unlikely alliance of two of the territory's Herero urban groups, the 'Otruppe', illiterate Herero men, and the female 'khari' beer brewers, is examined. During the 1920s and 1930s, they faced the colonial State's attempts to undercut and ultimately eradicate the illicit production of alcohol through the establishment of a Location Advisory Board. In so doing, they were pitted against the colonial State and a newly emerging Herero political elite. The 'angry young men' of the 'Otruppe' and the Herero women brewers proved to be an invincible alliance that managed to evade colonial regulations on alcohol. Bibliogr., notes, ref. [ASC Leiden abstract] Show less
This chapter reviews the history of anthropology in Namibia, focusing on the work of Guenther Kurt F. Wagner, who was appointed as Assistant Government Anthropologist for South West Africa in 1949... Show moreThis chapter reviews the history of anthropology in Namibia, focusing on the work of Guenther Kurt F. Wagner, who was appointed as Assistant Government Anthropologist for South West Africa in 1949. Wagner's unpublished work, 'Ethnographic survey of the Windhoek district' (1951), shows that Windhoek was not occupied by antagonistic tribes in the 1950s. The study echoes Brigitte Lau's work on southern Namibia which, in contrast to the work of Heinrich Vedder, argues for an understanding of Namibian history which emphasizes cooperation instead of conflict. A new look at Wagner's work shows that in the urban area of Windhoek in the 1950s, there was more unity among the city's black inhabitants than an initial glance would seem to imply. Wagner's work is of particular relevance in Namibia today, where ethnic tension appears to be on the increase. An African Renaissance will be impossible if ethnic tensions do no decrease. Bibliogr., notes. [ASC Leiden abstract] Show less
The papers brought together in this volume were originally presented at a symposium on the culture, history and economy of the Otjiherero-speaking people - the Herero and the Himba - of Namibia,... Show moreThe papers brought together in this volume were originally presented at a symposium on the culture, history and economy of the Otjiherero-speaking people - the Herero and the Himba - of Namibia, which was held in Siegberg, Germany, in September 1997. The papers are grouped in five parts: The emergence of pastoral strategies and social developments in southwestern Africa (contributions by Andrew B. Smith, Thomas Frank, Tilman Lenssen-Erz and Wilhelm J.G. M”hlig) - Formations and transformations of pastoral societies (Dag Henrichsen, Jan-Bart Gewald, Hildi Hendrickson, Wolfgang Werner) - The economic organization of livestock husbandry in the 20th century (Michael Bollig, Itaru Ohta, Ute Stahl, Giorgio Miescher) - Conceptualizations of environment and society (Steven van Wolputte, Andreas E. Eckl, David Crandall, Christofer W„rnl”f) - Maintaining pastoral identities on the periphery (Jeremy Silvester, Thomas Widlok, Ruy Duarte de Carvalho). The papers are preceded by an introduction on the transformations of pastoral society in Namibia by Michael Bollig and Jan-Bart Gewald. Show less
The papers brought together in this volume were originally presented at a symposium on the culture, history and economy of the Otjiherero-speaking people - the Herero and the Himba - of Namibia,... Show moreThe papers brought together in this volume were originally presented at a symposium on the culture, history and economy of the Otjiherero-speaking people - the Herero and the Himba - of Namibia, which was held in Siegberg, Germany, in September 1997. The papers are grouped in five parts: The emergence of pastoral strategies and social developments in southwestern Africa (contributions by Andrew B. Smith, Thomas Frank, Tilman Lenssen-Erz and Wilhelm J.G. M”hlig) - Formations and transformations of pastoral societies (Dag Henrichsen, Jan-Bart Gewald, Hildi Hendrickson, Wolfgang Werner) - The economic organization of livestock husbandry in the 20th century (Michael Bollig, Itaru Ohta, Ute Stahl, Giorgio Miescher) - Conceptualizations of environment and society (Steven van Wolputte, Andreas E. Eckl, David Crandall, Christofer W„rnl”f) - Maintaining pastoral identities on the periphery (Jeremy Silvester, Thomas Widlok, Ruy Duarte de Carvalho). The papers are preceded by an introduction on the transformations of pastoral society in Namibia by Michael Bollig and Jan-Bart Gewald Show less
Herero society in Namibia continually draws from a bundle of loose characteristics - related to behaviour, clothing, ritual, food, or other things - which are combined in various ways to form... Show moreHerero society in Namibia continually draws from a bundle of loose characteristics - related to behaviour, clothing, ritual, food, or other things - which are combined in various ways to form stereotypes of what is considered to be 'Herero'. One of the occasions where unconnected characteristics come to be grouped together into what is defined as typically Herero is the annual Herero commemorations of the dead. This article discusses the way in which these ceremonies construct and proclaim an ideal type of Herero society. It gives a description of the 'Otjigreenie' ceremony held at Okaseta on 17 and 18 August 1991, as observed by the author, outlines the history of these commemoration ceremonies, sketches the involvement of the Herero in informal ethnographic endeavours regarding their culture and society, and describes what appear to be some of the essential features of the Herero commemoration ceremonies. The article shows that the commemorations serve a threefold function: they allow Herero society to process and overcome traumatic events of the past; they lay claims to the land; and they are a site where, through performance, an ideal type of a united and harmonious Herero society is presented. Show less
