Tjamuaha

This article is about the traditional Herero leader of the 19th century. For the representative of Hereroland during South African Administration of South-West Africa, see Thimoteus Tjamuaha.

Tjamuaha
Chief of the Herero people in South-West Africa
Born	c. 1790 Otjikune
Died	1861 Okahandja
Burial	Okahandja
House	Ovaherero
Father	Tjirwe

Tombstone for Tjamuaha, Maharero, and Samuel Maharero in Okahandja

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

Notes

1. Dierks, Klaus. "Biographies of Namibian Personalities, T. Entry for Ua Tjirwe Tjamuaha" . Retrieved 24 June 2010.
2. Vedder 1997, p. 319.
3. 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.

Preceded by Tjirwe	Paramount Chief of the Herero people 1842–1861	Succeeded by Maharero