| Tjamuaha | |
|---|---|
| Chief of the Herero people in South-West Africa | |
| Born | c. 1790 Otjikune |
| Died | 1861 Okahandja |
| Burial | |
| House | Ovaherero |
| Father | Tjirwe |
Tjamuaha (also: Tjamuaha waTjirwe, literally English: Tjamuaha, son of Tjirwe, born ca. 1790 in Otjikune, died December 1861 in Okahandja) was a chief of the Herero people in South-West Africa, today's Namibia, and the father of Maharero. He was a close ally and subordinate of Jonker Afrikaner, Captain of the Oorlam Afrikaners, and stayed with him in Windhoek for most of his chieftaincy.1 With Tjamuaha's death, hostilities started between the Nama people and the Herero.2
This made it necessary for the clans to unite as a group. That is how, on 15 June 1863 at Otjizingue (now Otjimbingwe), Maharero was elected as the commander-in-chief of all Herero clans. Later Maharero was elected the first Paramount Chief of the Herero people.3
References
References
Notes
- Dierks, Klaus. "Biographies of Namibian Personalities, T. Entry for Ua Tjirwe Tjamuaha". Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- Vedder 1997, p. 319.
- Dierks, Klaus. "Biographies of Namibian Personalities, M. Entry for Maharero". klausdierks.com. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
Literature
- Vedder, Heinrich (1997). Das alte Südwestafrika. Südwestafrikas Geschichte bis zum Tode Mahareros 1890 [The old South-West Africa. South-West Africa's history until Maharero's death 1890] (in German) (7th ed.). Windhoek: Namibia Scientific Society. ISBN 0-949995-33-9.