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Isaak Witbooi, Nama name: ǃNanseb ǂKharib ǃNansemab, (25 May 1865 – 16 October 1928) was the fourth Kaptein of the ǀKhowesin, a subtribe of the Orlam, in Gibeon, South-West Africa (today's Namibia). When during the Herero Wars his father, Hendrik Witbooi, fell on 29 October 1905, he inherited the chieftaincy and continued fighting the German troops, but surrendered on 3 February 1906. The German colonial government formally abolished the traditional leadership structures and kept the ǀKhowesin including Isaak Witbooi detained in the North of Namibia, unable to return to Gibeon until the World War I surrender of local German troops to invading British-South African forces in 1915. At Gibeon, Isaak Witbooi succeeded in rebuilding the social organisation of the ǀKhowesin, despite being only recognised as "local headman" by the South African administration. He reigned until his death in 1928, when his brother David Witbooi succeeded him.
References
- Kössler, Reinhart (2005). In search of survival and dignity: Two traditional communities in southern Namibia under South African rule. Windhoek: Gamsberg Macmillan (Namibia Publishing House). p. 184 ff. ISBN 9789991605982.
- Dierks, Klaus. "Biographies of Namibian Personalities, W". Retrieved 6 February 2015.
| Captains of the Orlam | ||
|---|---|---|
| Orlam Afrikaner ǀAixaǀaen |
|  |
| Berseba Orlam ǀHaiǀkhauan |
of the faction supporting SWAPO; of the faction supporting DTA; leader of the reunified group; | |
| Bethanie Orlam ǃAman |
of the faction supporting the German Empire; of the faction opposing German Empire;; | |
| Khauas Nama Kaiǀkhauan |
| |
| Witbooi Orlam ǀKhowesin |
acting | |