Andreas Lambert
Encyclopedia
Captain Andreas Lambert, also: Andries Lambert, Nama name: ǃNanib, (ca. 1844–8 March 1894) was the second Kaptein
of the Kaiǀkhauan (Khauas Nama), a subtribe of the Orlam, in the eastern area of South-West Africa, today's Namibia
.
In the 1860s the Kaiǀkhauan were severely weakened in their political and economic power. Their cattle died of lung disease, and smallpox
befell the Nama community at Gobabis
, including much of the Lambert family. After his grandfather Amraal Lambert
died from this disease in 1864, Andreas took over the chieftainship from him and became the leader of the Kaiǀkhauan at the age of 20.
Under his leadership the clan regained its former fame in trade and cattle theft. He opposed the settlement of South Africa
n farmers, threatening to chase them away by force. Those Trekboer
e were in search of political independence from British occupation of the Cape Colony
and had ventured into his community's area during their Dorsland Trek
. Lambert also won a battle against a Tswana regiment around 1884, using his advantage of having firearms and horses. From that time on the Kaiǀkhauan controlled important trade routes, waylaying and robbing trade treks, and were considered a very powerful and dangerous force in Damaraland
and Namaland
. Andreas Lambert went as far as speaking on behalf of all Namibian people.
When Imperial Germany
began to colonize South-West Africa, Lambert refused to sign a "protection treaty". He was subsequently attacked by Schutztruppe
soldiers under the command of Theodor Leutwein
and Tswana auxiliaries. The Nama clan was defeated in their home settlement of Naosanabis (today's Leonardville
) on 6 March 1894. Lambert survived the attack but was tried and executed for murder and theft two days later. This is thought to be the first execution of a Namibian traditional leader by the German colonial forces. Historical records indicate that Leutwein intended to set an example for much stronger tribes not to stand in his way.
Leutwein confiscated some of the group's land and installed Andreas' brother Edward as chief of the Kaiǀkhauan. The surviving fighters were forced to sign the protection treaty but arose again in 1896 to fight German occupation. After Edward died in the Battle of Gobabis, the Kaiǀkhauan clan ceased to exist as a unit; its members were taken prisoners and scattered over the country.
Tribal chief
A tribal chief is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies with social stratification under a single leader emerged in the Neolithic period out of earlier tribal structures with little stratification, and they remained prevalent throughout the Iron Age.In the case of ...
of the Kaiǀkhauan (Khauas Nama), a subtribe of the Orlam, in the eastern area of South-West Africa, today's Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
.
In the 1860s the Kaiǀkhauan were severely weakened in their political and economic power. Their cattle died of lung disease, and smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
befell the Nama community at Gobabis
Gobabis
Gobabis is a town in eastern Namibia. It is the regional capital of the Omaheke Region, and the district capital of the Gobabis electoral constituency. Gobabis is situated down the B6 motorway from Windhoek to Botswana. The town is from the Buitepos border post with Botswana, and serves as an...
, including much of the Lambert family. After his grandfather Amraal Lambert
Amraal Lambert
Amraal Lambert, Nama name: ǂGaiǀnub, was the first Captain of the Kaiǀkhauan , a subtribe of the Orlam, in the eastern area of Namaland, today's Namibia....
died from this disease in 1864, Andreas took over the chieftainship from him and became the leader of the Kaiǀkhauan at the age of 20.
Under his leadership the clan regained its former fame in trade and cattle theft. He opposed the settlement of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n farmers, threatening to chase them away by force. Those Trekboer
Trekboer
The Trekboers were nomadic pastoralists descended from almost equal numbers of Dutch colonists, French Huguenots and German Protestants. The Trekboere began migrating from the areas surrounding what is now Cape Town during the 17th century throughout the 18th century.-Origins:The Trekboere were...
e were in search of political independence from British occupation of the Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
and had ventured into his community's area during their Dorsland Trek
Dorsland Trek
Dorsland Trek is the collective name of a series of northwards explorations undertaken by South African settlers in the second half of the 19th century in search of political independence...
. Lambert also won a battle against a Tswana regiment around 1884, using his advantage of having firearms and horses. From that time on the Kaiǀkhauan controlled important trade routes, waylaying and robbing trade treks, and were considered a very powerful and dangerous force in Damaraland
Damaraland
Damaraland was a name given to the north-central part of what later became Namibia, inhabited by the Damaras. It was bounded roughly by Ovamboland in the north, the Namib Desert in the west, the Kalahari Desert in the east, and Windhoek in the south....
and Namaland
Namaland
Namaland was a bantustan in South West Africa , intended by the apartheid government to be a self-governing homeland for the Nama people. A centrally administered local government was created in 1980....
. Andreas Lambert went as far as speaking on behalf of all Namibian people.
When Imperial Germany
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
began to colonize South-West Africa, Lambert refused to sign a "protection treaty". He was subsequently attacked by Schutztruppe
Schutztruppe
Schutztruppe was the African colonial armed force of Imperial Germany from the late 19th century to 1918, when Germany lost its colonies. Similar to other colonial forces, the Schutztruppe consisted of volunteer European commissioned and non-commissioned officers, medical and veterinary officers. ...
soldiers under the command of Theodor Leutwein
Theodor Leutwein
Theodor Gotthilf Leutwein was colonial administrator of German Southwest Africa from 1894-1904. Born in Strümpfelbrunn in the Grand Duchy of Baden, he replaced Curt von François as commander of the Schutztruppe in 1894...
and Tswana auxiliaries. The Nama clan was defeated in their home settlement of Naosanabis (today's Leonardville
Leonardville, Namibia
Leonardville is a village in Omaheke Region in eastern Namibia. It belongs to the Aminuis electoral constituency. The place normally receives an annual average rainfall of , although in the 2010/2011 rainy season were measured....
) on 6 March 1894. Lambert survived the attack but was tried and executed for murder and theft two days later. This is thought to be the first execution of a Namibian traditional leader by the German colonial forces. Historical records indicate that Leutwein intended to set an example for much stronger tribes not to stand in his way.
Leutwein confiscated some of the group's land and installed Andreas' brother Edward as chief of the Kaiǀkhauan. The surviving fighters were forced to sign the protection treaty but arose again in 1896 to fight German occupation. After Edward died in the Battle of Gobabis, the Kaiǀkhauan clan ceased to exist as a unit; its members were taken prisoners and scattered over the country.