19th century – 19th century
Central and southern Namibia
The Herero–Afrikaner conflicts of 1863–1866 were a prolonged series of wars and raids that weakened Afrikaner Oorlam hegemony and enabled Herero leaders to expand their political independence. Fighting involved Herero, Afrikaner, and Nama-Oorlam forces across a broad area extending toward Ondonga and the Kaoko. The conflicts were driven by political rivalry, cattle raiding, access to weapons, trade, and indebtedness, while also impoverishing Damara and San communities.
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The Story
The conflicts of 1863–64 did not produce a clear military victor. Maharero moved northwards from Otjimbingwe after apparently abandoning a brief alliance with Andersson, but open conflict continued. Later interpretations disagreed over whether the fighting should be understood chiefly as a Herero war of liberation, a conflict encouraged by Rhenish missionaries, or a struggle in which traders and their economic interests played a decisive role.
The fighting nevertheless transformed the political balance of central and southern Namibia. Afrikaner forces and their Nama-Oorlam allies attacked several polities, including the Witboois at Gibeon and the Lamberts at Gobabis. Afrikaner forces suffered important defeats, including a defeat by a Rehoboth commando in November 1865 and the defeat of ||Oaseb by a command from Gibeon and Berseba in 1867, while Herero leaders built their own military and economic strength.
Cattle raids were central to the violence. Herero leaders including Maharero, Kambazembi, and Kapekaha raided intensively between 1863 and 1866, making many Herero cattle-rich while reducing many Nama-Oorlam communities to poverty. The fighting also affected Damara and probably San groups scattered across the country; during the march to Rehoboth in 1864, Maharero’s and Andersson’s forces robbed Damara settlements of sheep and goats to provision their troops.
19th century – 19th century
Central and southern Namibia
The Herero–Afrikaner conflicts of 1863–1866 were a prolonged series of wars and raids that weakened Afrikaner Oorlam hegemony and enabled Herero leaders to expand their political independence. Fighting involved Herero, Afrikaner, and Nama-Oorlam forces across a broad area extending toward Ondonga and the Kaoko. The conflicts were driven by political rivalry, cattle raiding, access to weapons, trade, and indebtedness, while also impoverishing Damara and San communities.
Continue exploring
The Story
The conflicts of 1863–64 did not produce a clear military victor. Maharero moved northwards from Otjimbingwe after apparently abandoning a brief alliance with Andersson, but open conflict continued. Later interpretations disagreed over whether the fighting should be understood chiefly as a Herero war of liberation, a conflict encouraged by Rhenish missionaries, or a struggle in which traders and their economic interests played a decisive role.
The fighting nevertheless transformed the political balance of central and southern Namibia. Afrikaner forces and their Nama-Oorlam allies attacked several polities, including the Witboois at Gibeon and the Lamberts at Gobabis. Afrikaner forces suffered important defeats, including a defeat by a Rehoboth commando in November 1865 and the defeat of ||Oaseb by a command from Gibeon and Berseba in 1867, while Herero leaders built their own military and economic strength.
Cattle raids were central to the violence. Herero leaders including Maharero, Kambazembi, and Kapekaha raided intensively between 1863 and 1866, making many Herero cattle-rich while reducing many Nama-Oorlam communities to poverty. The fighting also affected Damara and probably San groups scattered across the country; during the march to Rehoboth in 1864, Maharero’s and Andersson’s forces robbed Damara settlements of sheep and goats to provision their troops.
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