79-1923

1923	Germans in the territory are granted the same rights (thus have the same duties) as South Africans. The Roman-Catholic mission prefect Joseph Gotthardt analyses the black freedom movement under the slogan "Africa to the Africans".
January	South African stamps (with the portrait of the British King George V) with overprint: South West Africa/Zuid West Afrika are introduced.
14.03.	Samuel Maharero dies in exile in Serowe in Bechuanaland.
16.03.	Clemence Kapuuo is born in Teufelsbach, near Okahandja.
02.04.	New disputes between Vita Tom and Ovahimba Chief Muhona Katiti occur. Carl (Cocky) Hahn, Resident Commissioner of Ovamboland, proposes a third visit by Charles Manning to the Kaokoveld, meanwhile Magistrate of Rehoboth. As result of the visit Manning recommends dividing the northern Kaokoveld into three tribal areas: Muhona Katiti receives Ondoto, Epembe, Ovikange and Ehomba and Vita the areas west of Epembe with Otjitanga, Hamalemba, Omangete, Ombakaha and Otjiyandjasemo. The Ovatjimba Chief Kasupi who has died in the mean time, is succeeded by Kahewa-Nawa, who is given the areas around Ombepera.
13.04.	Hahn meets Vita for the first time. Hahn writes about this meeting "He is a fine looking old native with excellent manners and personality."
23.08.	Samuel Maharero’s body, who had died earlier in British Bechuanaland, is brought to Okahandja. A uniformed Ovaherero honour guard which is led by Hosea Kutako, Samuel’s sons Traugott and Frederick as well as Mr Warner, the magistrate of Okahandja, meet Maharero’s coffin as his train steams into Okahandja station. For three days Samuel’s remains are placed in state in the house of Traugott Maharero.
26.08.	Samuel Maharero’s burial in Okahandja – alongside his forefathers – is a gesture of defiance and a symbol of regained pride. The leader of the funeral services is Hosea Kutako. Courtney-Clarke, Secretary for SWA, Mr Cope, Native Affairs officer and Mr Warner from Okahandja represent the SWA Administration. Following a church service, led by Rhenish Missionary Heinrich Vedder, the funeral is held out in the church yard, in accordance with Ovaherero tradition. In consequence these events lead to a crisis with the Rhenish Mission which still maintains its view of "Christian Western civilisation" and a pietistic interpretation of Christianity. Maharero's burial has been commemorated each year since then. Herero Day (Red Flag Day) in Okahandja: Memorising the Home Coming of Late Samuel Maharero: 23./26.08.1923: With Ovaherero Chief Alfons Kaihepaovazandu Maharero from Okonja (near Otjinene) in the first Row (left): Otjozondjupa Region: 24.08.2003 Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks Herero Day in Okahandja: Memorising the Home Coming of Late Samuel Mahaerero: 26.08.1923: Otjozondjupa Region: 24.08.2003 Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks Herero Day in Okahandja: Memorising the Home Coming of Late Samuel Mahaerero: 26.08.1923: First Row in the Middle: Katuutire Nathaniel Kaura: Otjozondjupa Region: 24.08.2003 Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks Herero Day in Okahandja: Memorising the Home Coming of Late Samuel Mahaerero: 26.08.1923: Otjozondjupa Region: 24.08.2003 Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks Herero Day in Okahandja: Memorising the Home Coming of Late Samuel Maharero: 23./26.08.1923: The Guard of Honour approaches the Grave Yard of the Maharero Dynasty: Otjozondjupa Region: 24.08.2003 Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks Herero Day in Okahandja: Memorising the Home Coming of Late Samuel Maharero: 23./26.08.1923: The Guard of Honour prays at the Grave of the Maharero Dynasty: Otjozondjupa Region: 24.08.2003 Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks Herero Day in Okahandja: Memorising the Home Coming of Late Samuel Maharero: 23./26.08.1923: Omuherero from Botswana: With Extermination Order of Lothar von Trotha: Otjozondjupa Region: 24.08.2003 Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks Herero Day in Okahandja: Memorising the Home Coming of Late Samuel Maharero: 23./26.08.1923: Katuutire Nathaniel Kaura at the Grave Yard of the Maharero Dynasty: Otjozondjupa Region: 24.08.2003 Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks Herero Day in Okahandja: Memorising the Home Coming of Late Samuel Maharero: 23./26.08.1923: At the Grave Yard of the Maharero Dynasty: Otjozondjupa Region: 24.08.2003 Copyright of Photos Dr. Klaus Dierks Herero Day in Okahandja: Memorising the Home Coming of Late Samuel Maharero: 23./26.08.1923: Ovaherero Chiefs honour the late Chiefs at the Grave on the Rhenish Missionary Cemetery: Otjozondjupa Region: 24.08.2003 Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks Soon the "Otjiserandu" (Red Band Organisation or Truppenspieler) is formed. This group allows Ovaherero to express "nationalist" aspirations in a covert fashion. Predecessors of the "Otjiserandu" are already created as early as 1916 in Okahandja (Otjiherero: Otruppe)(The Ovaherero society is highly militarised from the 1860s onwards. Ovaherero men are organised into European-style, highly armed, uniformed and mounted units. These military units are usually only mobilised in times of trouble. The only exception is the small standing army of Manasse Tyiseseta of Omaruru). Eduard Maharero from Okahandja who later plays a role in the UNIA, takes on the rank of "Kaiser" of the Truppenspieler. Further Truppenspieler-regiments exist in 1917 at the Waterberg, Omaruru, Outjo, Swakopmund, Windhoek, L�deritz, Keetmanshoop and Okahandja. "Otjiserandu" and Ovaherero leaders such as Hosea Kutako play a significant role in keeping the resistance struggle against the South African colonial administration alive between 1923 and 1958. They transform the Ovaherero from a fragmented and defeated nation into a major political force in Namibia. Following the funeral of his father, Frederick Maharero, the oldest son of Samuel Maharero, appeals to the SWA Administration to be permitted to stay in the territory. His appeal is backed by Hosea Kutako, Traugott Maharero, Alfred Maharero, Salatiel Kambazembi (who returned to SWA around 1920), Joel Kasetura, Asser Kamusuvise, Silphanus Mungunda and Wilfried Kazondonga. Frederick is not to remain permanently in SWA and in December 1924 he is expelled.
28.09.	An agreement is reached between the SWA Administrator and a section of the Baster community to develop a new constitution. This leads to Proclamation No. 28 of 1923, which provides for a form of limited self-government for the Basters. In turn this leads to a conflict between the two Baster factions, the "Raad" and the "Nuwe Raad". An invitation from Administrator Gysbert Reitz Hofmeyr is met with contempt by the Nuwe Raad. The Nuwe Raad sends a petition to the SA Prime Minister demanding complete independence, but to no avail.
23.10.	The London Treaty ("De Haas-Smuts Agreement") recommends that Germans should obtain SA citizenship ( Zuidwest-Afrika Naturalisatie van Vreemdelingen Wet), and 3 228 Germans become naturalised citizens in terms of this law. The Germans are regarded as an integral part of the territory. The SWA Administration will treat with "utmost sympathy" the usage of the German language. German immigration into the territory is promoted.

San People at Namutoni, 1923
Namibia State Archive

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