3.3 The Leading Figures in the African Methodist Episcopal Church
3.3.1 The Feeling of Loyalty of the Nama-speaking People Towards the
It is an established fact that the Nama-speaking people of Southern Namibia had a special loyalty towards AMEC. One could trace back the origin of this loyalty to the origins of the Nama revolt in the spring of 1904. There was a certain prophet named Stuurman, who arrived in Namibia from the Cape Province. He proclaimed that he had been sent by God to drive the white man, and in particular the Germans, from Africa. It seems that Stuurman exercised a powerful influence over Hendrik Witbooi. Witbooi was clear from a letter the old chief wrote to several Nama captains explaining his decision to take the field against the Germans.
To my sons and brothers and Captains Goliath at Berseba and Paul Fredericks at Bethanie:
Because I have little paper I wrote to my dear friends on a single letter which our noble Christian must read and then send quickly on to Paul. My sons, as we all know for a long time I have lived under the law, and in the law, just as we all have in the hope that God the Father would determine the time to free us from the difficulties of the world. For I have borne everything with peace and patience and I have endured everything that oppressed my heart because I waited for the Lord. Now I will not waste many words. Therefore I will speak about two points in the hope that you will understand me. First my arm and shoulders are lame and I recognised that the time is now full for God the Father to free the Earth. So I give this letter for my dear ones to read as quickly as possible and then send the letter on to Paul. The second point is: I have now stopped walking submissively and will write a letter to Captain von Burgsdorff saying that I have put on the white feather (the sign for commencing hostilities) and that the time is over when I will walk behind him. The time has expired and the Saviour himself will now act and He will free us through his grace and compassion.31
Hendrik Witbooi, the guerilla leader was also an elder of the mission. The rumours of German invasions in Namaland during the middle of 1904 disturbed Hendrik Witbooi and tempted his faith. He could already sense the hostility and hatred of the Germans towards the indigenous tribes. It was reported that during this period 300 German troops arrived in the Southern part of Namibia. As the German popUlation grew, there were demands for land and
31 J.M. Bridgman. The Revolt of the Hereros. Berkeley: University of California Press.
1981. p. 134-135.
greater security from African raids. After the Hereros had been defeated, Hendrik Witbooi collided with the Germans, who could not defeat him. He was skilled in guerilla war tactics.
In the ensuing war the Herero killed ± 120 Germans, mainly traders in January, 1904.
In July 1904 Jacob Morenga and Abraham Morris again appeared with about a thousand armed Namas. Hendrik Witbooi, who was strongly influenced by the prophet Stuurman, attacked the Germans and in October 1904 military magistrate Henning von Burgsdorff at Gibeon was killed. This was immediately followed by widespread killings on both sides.
Hendrik Witbooi withdrew into the Kalahari and from there launched attacks. After October 1904, the rebellion spread into the South led by Hendrik Witbooi. At this stage he was branded as the enemy number one of the settlers. After fierce resistance, Witbooi was killed in
1905.32
The appeal of the Governor on 1 December 1905 and the activities of the RMS missionaries persuaded some 20 000 starving Hereros to report to the missionaries at the camp. As a consequence of the war, nearly all Herero lands were confiscated and converted to crown lands.33 After they had recovered a little, they were taken to prison camps and were sent out from there as labourers to all parts of the country. Their governing institutions were destroyed and their captains and chiefs lost all power. The casualty rate must have been relatively high as nobody knew exactly how many lives had been lost. This seems to be true also for the war prisoners and the livestock which could not be accounted for. On top of this were the very sick, disabled and all who suffered in one way or another from the repression measures undertaken by the colonial forces. The German governor Von Trotha was ruthless and merciless. Consequently the popUlation decreased in Southern Namibia due to losses of life during the rebellion and more so because of the repression measures which included destruction of food. The colonial forces inside Namibia and the civilians in Berlin strongly believed that only by the total elimination of the indigenous people from Namibia could the country be opened for white settlement and civilization.33
32 M.M. Niewoudt. Bakermat van Kerkverband: Mariental-Eeufees. Goodwood:
Nasionale Boekdrukkery. 1998. p. 107.
33 L. Benjamin and C. Gregory (eds). Southern Africa at the Crossroads. Rivonia:
Ashanti Publishing. 1992. p. 108.
33 L. Benjamin and C. Gregory (eds). Southern Africa at the Crossroads. Rivonia:
Ashanti Publishing. 1992. p. 108.
Against this historical background and reality, the Nama people of Southern Namibia strongly believed that their forefathers such as Hendrik Witbooi and Jacob Morenga did not fight in vain, but for a good cause. Before the German protectorate was established, Hendrik Witbooi fought long and bitter wars with the Hereros. His objective was the establishment of Nama hegemony over the whole of the central parts of Namibia. In honour of Hendrik Witbooi, a special song was composed by his great grandson Rev. Dr Hendrik Witbooi. It is a very emotional song and is only sung at big occasions such as the anniversary of the death of the late Nama Captain and Witbooi clan-related festivals.
I would argue that the Nama tribe under the guidance of the Witbooi clan was successful in laying firm foundations for the AMEC in Southern Namibia. The Witbooi clan was from the very beginning, opposed to German colonisation. They made prime sacrifices and had been defeated in the face of the superior firepower of the Germans. The Germans had also taken advantage of the then prevailing political situation, to isolate the Nama group from the rest of the indigenous peoples.
The Chief, Hendrik Witbooi, who dominated the political scene in the early 1900's, also had a vision for an African Church where the African people could feel at home.34 Throughout the generations his vision and influence remained with the Nama people of Southern Namibia. It is notable that the AMEC had tremendous appeal in Southern Namibia. In this part, the majority of the people, including the most influential people of the community became, AMEC members. One prominent AMEC member was Chief Samuel H. Witbooi, successor to Chief Hendrik Witbooi, the guerilla leader who fought the Germans in the war of resistance 1904-07. Up until today the Witbooi family (lkhobesin clan) continues to provide community and church leadership in the South. The RMS leaders were very hostile to the Witbooi group.
In one of their pastoral letters, the Germans clearly said that it is very difficult for them to address the Nama rebels as "dear brothers in Christ". Through such irresponsible and degrading comments the rift between the Namas and the Germans grew. The German oppressors never confessed their active role in promoting and defending colonialism and apartheid. Their attitude was evidence enough of viewing black humanity as inferior and not able to walk on their own. In my observation, the old Hendrik Witbooi, who was only an
34 S . Nambala. 1994. p. 105.
elder, was very knowledgeable in the Old Testament. He regarded himself as the liberator of the Nama people.
From the time of Hendrik Witbooi, up to today, the AMEC propagate for justice and equal opportunities in all walks of life for their members. The AMEC is a true Namibian Church particularly in the South of the country. It is one of the few churches which has the credibility to speak out against injustices, because it has been speaking all these years.
All the Nama leaders who participated in the 1946 AMEC schism belonged to the Witbooi clan. Nama congregations in and around Keetmanshoop and Maltahohe joined the schism.
They revolted against dependence on the RMS and contemplated forming their own church. They successfully formed their own church in the Southern part of Namibia, but the question of indigenous leadership remains a crucial one. So far, all the AMEC bishops govern in absentia. The AMEC leadership in America and Cape Town had overlooked the importance which Nama society attached to their traditional and indigenous leaders. The Nama (Ikbobesin people), especially leaders, were expected to behave in a manner traditionally proper to the society, each receiving from the members of the society certain respects and honours. In the context of the Nama people, a political leader as well as church leaders, for instance, had to be respected and could not be publicly condemned, though he could be privately or indirectly warned after which he could be removed from power. But when the Germans came they punished anybody under them, political leaders notwithstanding. For this the Germans were feared and hated by all people.
On the religious side, the German missionaries were looked upon as disruptive elements not only to the existing religious customs, but also to social status. After the 1946 AMEC schism, the RMS sent unsubstantiated propaganda that the moral life among the Nama people of the Southern part was declining. The RMS argued that there was less discipline in the AMEC, because their leadership was very far from the congregations. In that way the RMS undermined the authority and leadership of the Witbooi clan chief.
It is only a question of time before one of the Nama leaders takes over the Bishopric of AMEC in Namibia by the next elections in 2004. The process that they have set in motion
during the 1946 schism, is not yet completed. Rev. Dr. Hendrik Witbooi who is presently the chief of the Witbooi clan and Rev. Andreas Biwa from Keetmanshoop are two suitable candidates for this position. Both of them are active in political circles and good orators. Dr H. Witbooi is currently the deputy Prime Minister of Namibia and Rev. A. Biwa is the mayor of Keetmanshoop town in Southern Namibia. The AMEC congregation members in Namibia should see to it, that their church should be led by an indigenous leader. This process should be initiated from above as well as from the Namibians themselves, through official deliberations in church meetings and annual conferences.
Dr Gow, the AMEC Bishop made a promise 57 years ago to the leaders of the 1946 schism that he would help them until such time that they could be independent. It transpired throughout the years that the Mother Church in the USA played a delaying tactic on this issue.
It would be a disgrace not to honour the noble intentions of Bishop Gow who is credited with successfully negotiating with the country's administration to get permission to establish the church. It seems the external leadership of AMEC monopolised everything for much too long.
The positive aspect on the side of the AMEC in Namibia, is that they do not depend on foreign funds. When the 1946 AMEC schism took place, the RMS also drastically cut funds when the German missionaries gave way to indigenous leaders. So far, in Namibia, the AMEC is one of the few churches in Namibia, which is practising self-supporting ministry. In monetary terms, whatever they have, they raise locally from the congregation members and self- help projects such as the garden and clinic in Gibeon.