Hendrik Witbooi (c. 1830-1905)[1] was a king of the Namaqua people, a sub-tribe of the Khoikhoi. He lived in present day Namibia. His face is portrayed on the obverse of all Namibian dollar banknotes.
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King Hendrik Witbooi (also spelt Witboi) was also known by the Nama name ǃNanseb gaib ǀGâbemab, the Herero name Korota, the Herero pejorative Otjikorota, and the nickname Kort.[1]
The family of Hendrik Witbooi made its mark as important members of native Nama tribes. His grandfather, David Witbooi, was Chief of the tribe, who led the tribe across the Orange River into Namaland. His father, Moses Witbooi, was also a Chief of the tribe. His uncle, Jonker Afrikaner, was also a well-known Nama Chief, and opponent of Hendrik Witbooi. Jonker Afrikaner was in turn the son of the famous Jager Afrikaner. Hendrik Witbooi himself had seven sons and five daughters, including his son Isaak Witbooi.
Witbooi was born circa 1830 in Pella, Northern Cape, in the Cape Colony, today part of South Africa. He was educated as a Lutheran by German missionary Johannes Olp, and was well-versed in many languages, including his native Nama. He was a member of the Nama people, also known as the Khoikhoi.
The /Khowese Nama and other Nama tribes often fought amongst each other and with Herero tribes. After almost being killed in a conflict with the Hereros, he had a vision that he had been chosen by God to lead his people north.
Witbooi moved North on May 16, 1884, with a faction of the /Khowese tribe. This was against the wishes of his father, Moses, who remained opposed to Hendrik's plans. As evidenced from his diaries (which contain a large portion of the surviving documents of Witbooi) he still admired his father greatly, in spite of their political difference. On February 22, 1887, Moses' chief rival, his subchief Paul Visser, had Moses killed and deposed. Hendrik retaliated on July 12, 1888, shooting Visser. This led to Hendrik becoming chief of the /Khowese people. He began to consolidate other Nama tribes under his control as well.
In 1893, while they were still sleeping, very early in the morning, the /Khowese people were attacked by the Germans at Hornkranz. Nearly all of the women and children were massacred, although Hendrik managed to escape with most of his fighting men. He campaigned against the Germans for two years, until the treaty of Gurus, 15 September 1894 where he agreed to a conditional surrender, and also to render military support for the Germans, later against other smaller tribes, like the eastern Mbanderu Herrero, Afrikaaners, Swarbooi's, etc.
In October 1904, after serving as a branch of the German army fighting against the Herero for the last three years, Witbooi and the Nama revolted against German rule in Namibia.
Witbooi was killed in action in 1905, near Vaalgras, near Koichas. His dying request were: "It is enough. The children should now have rest." He was replaced by Fransman Nama until the Nama surrendered in 1908.
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