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 Periodical article |
 Leiden University catalogue |
 WorldCat |
| Title: | The Berseba Captaincy after 1938: Collective Identity and Conflict in a Traditional Community in Southern Namibia |
| Author: | Kossler, Reinhart |
| Year: | 2001 |
| Periodical: | Afrika Spectrum |
| Volume: | 36 |
| Issue: | 3 |
| Pages: | 347-362 |
| Language: | English |
| Geographic terms: | Namibia South Africa |
| Subjects: | Nama colonialism traditional rulers History and Exploration Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) |
| Abstract: | The deposition of Berseba's last Kaptein Diederik Goliath in 1938 at the behest of the South African authorities marks the high point of an enduring conflict within the /Hai-/khauan over the legitimate occupation of the position of chief or Kaptein. This article explores the strategies and responses this Nama community of southern Namibia developed in dealing with the colonial power. Confronted with the deposition of their Kaptein, /Hai-/khaua collective identity was articulated in endeavours to safeguard the territory and in demands for the captaincy to be restored. The implementation of the homeland policy in its Namibian version, marked by the Odendaal Plan, helped to resuscitate internal conflict in Berseba from the mid-1960s onwards. Now the ensuing realignment of the opposing groups took on a party political colouring as well, as national politics became more influential. The situation was exacerbated by fresh interventions of the South African occupying power. Internal conflict has not been resolved even today, although recently there are tendencies to reach a settlement. At the same time, through the prism of intracommunal conflict, the resilience of this Nama community, against all pessimistic prognoses, may be gauged. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. in English, French and German. |
