Coat of arms of Namibia
Encyclopedia
The coat of arms of Namibia is the official heraldic symbol of Namibia
. Introduced at the time of independence in 1990, it superseded the earlier coat of arms used by the South African administration of the territory.
. After approving the flag
, the committee decided to use the same design as the coat of arms, with the addition of an African Fish Eagle
(Haliaeetus vocifer) for a crest, and two gemsbok (Oryx
) as supporters.
broke out before the project was finalised, and the arms were never actually taken into use. The arms proposed for German South West Africa
depicted an Afrikander bull's head, a diamond, and the German imperial eagle.
to design the arms. They were finalised in 1961, taken into use in 1963, and registered at the Bureau of Heraldry in 1964.
The arms were discontinued when South West Africa was reconstituted into a three-tier system of government in 1980. The Administration for Whites (1980-89) took over the arms in 1981.
The official blazon of the arms is :
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...
. Introduced at the time of independence in 1990, it superseded the earlier coat of arms used by the South African administration of the territory.
History
The Constituent Assembly which drew up the Namibian Constitution in 1989 appointed a National Symbols Sub-Committee to produce a flag and coat of arms for the country. The committee enlisted the assistance of the South African Bureau of HeraldryBureau of Heraldry (South Africa)
The Bureau of Heraldry is the South African heraldic authority, established in Pretoria on 1 June 1963. It is headed by a National Herald and its functions are to register arms, badges, flags and seals , to keep a public register, to issue registration certificates and, since 1980, to advise the...
. After approving the flag
Flag of Namibia
The flag of Namibia was adopted on March 21, 1990 upon independence from South Africa.The main colours were taken from the flag of the South West Africa People's Organization , the most important liberation movement in Namibia...
, the committee decided to use the same design as the coat of arms, with the addition of an African Fish Eagle
African Fish Eagle
The African Fish Eagle or – to distinguish it from the true fish eagles , the African Sea Eagle – is a large species of eagle that is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa wherever large bodies of open water occur that have an abundant food supply. As a result of its large range, it is known in many...
(Haliaeetus vocifer) for a crest, and two gemsbok (Oryx
Oryx
Oryx is one of four large antelope species of the genus Oryx. Three of the species are native to arid parts of Africa, with a fourth native to the Arabian Peninsula. Their pelage is pale with contrasing dark markings in the face and on the legs, and their long horns are almost straight...
) as supporters.
Blazon
The arms are blazoned as follows:
- Flag of Namibia
Flag of NamibiaThe flag of Namibia was adopted on March 21, 1990 upon independence from South Africa.The main colours were taken from the flag of the South West Africa People's Organization , the most important liberation movement in Namibia...
: Tierced per bend sinister Azure, and Vert, a bend sinister Gules fimbriated Argent and in dexter chief a Sun with twelve straight rays Or charged with an annulet Azure.- Crest : Upon a traditional head-ring Vert charged with six lozenges conjoined Or, a fish eagle rising wings elevated and displayed proper.
- Supporters : Two oryx proper.
- Compartment : A Namib sand dune with a Welwitschia Mirabilis on the foreground.
- Motto : Unity Liberty Justice.
Proposed arms 1914
In 1914, the German government decided to assign coats of arms to its overseas colonies, including South West Africa. Arms were designed, but World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
broke out before the project was finalised, and the arms were never actually taken into use. The arms proposed for German South West Africa
South West Africa
South-West Africa was the name that was used for the modern day Republic of Namibia during the earlier eras when the territory was controlled by the German Empire and later by South Africa....
depicted an Afrikander bull's head, a diamond, and the German imperial eagle.
Arms 1963-80
In 1958, the South West African administration decided that the territory should have an official coat of arms. After obtaining South African government approval, the administration engaged Dr Coenraad BeyersCoenraad Beyers
Dr Coenraad Beyers was a South African historian, archivist, and herald.He joined the State Archives in 1927, and was Chief Archivist from 1944 until he retired in 1953. In 1956, he served on the official committee appointed to investigate the practical aspects of setting up an heraldic authority...
to design the arms. They were finalised in 1961, taken into use in 1963, and registered at the Bureau of Heraldry in 1964.
The arms were discontinued when South West Africa was reconstituted into a three-tier system of government in 1980. The Administration for Whites (1980-89) took over the arms in 1981.
The official blazon of the arms is :
- Per chevron ployé Argent and Gules, dexter a karakul ram's face caboshed Sable and sinister the head and neck of an Afrikander bull proper, in base two miner's hammers in saltire Or and there-under three triangular diamonds Argent 2 and 1; on a chief Gules a pale Argent charged with an eagle Sable langued and membered Gules, dexter a representation of Fort Namutoni and sinister a Portuguese padrao both Argent.
- Crest : A gemsbok statant gardant proper.
- Supporters: Dexter a springbok and sinister a kudu, both proper, resting on a desert-like knoll, with a growing Welwitschia Mirabilis in the foreground proper.
- Motto : Viribus unitis.