Towards redemption: A socio-political history of the Herero of Namibia between 1890 and 1923

by Jan-Bart Gewald

Between 1904 and 1908 Herero society in Namibia was destroyed in a genocidal war against Imperial Germany. This book deals with the politics of Herero society prior to its destruction, and the manner in which this society reestablished itself after the war. It goes beyond previous accounts which all see the war as the totality of Herero history. Rather it charts the context without which the war cannot be understood. Essentially this book details the socio-political history of the Herero of Namibia during the reign of the first Herero paramount, Samuel Maharero, between 1890 and 1923. The first half deals with the ways in which the political structures of Hereroland developed, in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, but failed to cope with German imperialism. The second half deals with Herero society in de aftermath of the Herero-German war, where on the basis of German militarism and missionary endeavour, Herero society reestablished itself. By 1923, and the funeral of Samuel Maharero, Herero society had redeveloped structures which could and were used to attempt to cope with the new South African colonial administration, and further the struggle of the Herero toward redemption.

400 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1996