Unit 1.

2 Mandume Ndemufayo
Rebellion
Objectives
At the end of this unit you should be able to:
1.Describe the events that led to Mandume
Ndemufayo’s Rebellion
2.Discuss the issues concerning:
a) the killing of Mandume Ndemufayo
b) the decapitation of Mandume Ndemufayo.
c) the whereabouts of Mandume’s head.
3. The impact of the Mandume’s Rebellion on
Black societies in Namibia.
Events preceding colonial occupation
The period preceding colonial occupation was
characterised by:
• frequent drought and scarcity, plus
• incorporation into the mercantile and mining
capitalist economies
• Rinderpest in 1897, contributed to processes
of immiseration in societies that were already
stratified
• Mandume Ndemufayo was born in 1884
• He became king of Oukwanyama in 1911.
• After defending Oukwanyama against
Portuguese invasion in 1915, he was forced
into a 'protection' agreement with South
African officials administering southern
Ovamboland.
 Mandume ya Ndemufayo

https://www.google.com/search?q=Pictures+of+mandume+ndemufayo&tbm
https://www.google.com/search?q=Pictures+of+mandume+ndemufayo&tbm
• His victory over the Portuguese in Angola did
not go down well with the South African
government in Pretoria.
• They demanded that Mandume come to
Windhoek for a court hearing for his military
activities in Angola.
• Mandume refused to come to Windhoek to be
tried by the ‘English’.
http://mossamedes-do-antigamente.blogspot.com/2011/01/mandume-ndemufayo-
seculo-xx.html
 Mandume and some of his fighters

https://www.google.com/search?q=Pictures+of+mandume+ndemufayo&tbm
• He maintained that he did not do anything
wrong
• Lt. Hahn reported that Ohamba Mandume
was determined to fight the `English’, rather
than agree to travel to Windhoek to stand trial
for his ambush of a Portuguese force (sent to
attack him) on 30th October 1916, in which, it
was alleged, 22 Portuguese soldiers and 43
`Askaris’ (locally recruited black soldiers) had
been killed.
• The South African forces were particularly
concerned that it was also reported that
Mandume’s forces had also captured two
motor cars and two Maxim guns (the heavy
machine gun that could fire up to 600 rounds
a minute and which is, many claim, was the
military technology that gave European
powers the most decisive edge in the
conquest of African states).
• On 1st December 1916 Lt Hahn stated that
“Mandume is reported to have said that the
White Man can only get him out of his country
by putting a bullet through his forehead”.
• On 6th December 1916 Hahn held a lengthy
meeting with Ohamba Mandume and tried,
unsuccessfully, to persuade him to surrender
• In this meeting Hahn is quoting Ohamba
Mandume as stating, defiantly: My heart tells
me that I have done nothing wrong.
• Mandume stated further that : I have liked the
English. I have had good advice from them,
but I cannot go to Windhoek as I have too
much to leave behind.
• If the English want me, I am here and they can
come and fetch me here.
• I will not fire the first shot, but I am not a
steenbok of the veldt, I am a man, not a
woman and I will fight until my last bullet is
expended.
• I am ready here
• The final military decision to attack
Oukwanyama was taken after this meeting
and the South African forces started to
mobilise and move northwards.
• Reports indicated that a lucrative arms trade
had been taking place with Oukwanyama
• This was being exchanged for cattle.
• In addition it was claimed that the German
Schutztruppe commander, Colonel Franke,
had provided Ohamba Mandume with 20
modern rifles and ten cases of ammunition.
• An attempt by Ohamba Mandume’s senior
military commander, Kalola, to ambush the
force on 3rd February, 1917 was unsuccessful.
• The South African soldiers attacked the new
palace at Oihole on 6th February 1917.
• Subsequently there was a fierce firefight with
Kwanyama snipers shooting from trees and a
charge towards the Union forces.
• The South African forces opened fire with
Maxim machine guns and the fighting then
quickly subsided.
• After the battle, Union troops searched the
area for the dead and wounded and one of Lt.
Hahn’s scouts, Jan Vennel, discovered the body
of Ohamba Mandume
 Mandume ya Ndefayo

https://www.google.com/search?q=Pictures+of+mandume+ndemufayo&tbm
• The South African losses were pretty heavy:
about nine killed and several wounded
Points of dispute:
1. Who killed Mandume Ndemufayo?
• The South African soldiers maintained that
they did it: There were about five or six
wounds in the Chief – about four in a row
across the chest.
• Pastor Kaulinge stated: "King Mandume was
not killed by anybody.
• He shot himself just as he told us that he
would not be captured or taken alive by
anyone.
• He was shot by one bullet only, a clear
indication that he really shot himself".
2. Was Mandume Ndemufayo decapitated?
• By who?
• Where is his head being kept?
 Mandume ya Ndemufayo

https://www.google.com/search?q=Pictures+of+mandume+ndemufayo&tbm
• There is not much clues that `booty’ that
might have been looted from the site.
• However, attempts were made to seize the
cattle of Ohamba Mandume to help cover the
cost of the military operation.
• One exception is a reference to the seizure of
ten elephant tusks from the palace at Oihole,
two of these were provided to Col. De Jager,
the military commander of the operation