Ovaherero Tribe
Founding Father of the White Flag
Founding Father of Omaruru
Born in Tjakatjongo in the district of Ozongoto and he stayed in a place called Otjizingue today known as (Otjimbingwe) which was named by himself like that. He was the only King in that place, it was the main place in Namibia leading during that time as everyone met the King there, according to His nobility and hard working and the trust the people gained from Him, till the White people named Him (Ou Wilhelm), before He became a Christian.
During the year called Okurondeue (Rock Climbing) 1863, Ovaherero was under the colonial of Namas.
Father was Zemburuka and Mother was Katundure (Zaapi) of Peraa
Cousin to Katjamuaha Kamaharero Maharero (Red Flag) through mother's line
Christian Wilhelm Zeraua was a famous Ovaherero leader at Otjimbingwe. Zeraua, who rose to prominence in the 1850s as a leader of the Ovaherero, was a central figure in the process by which the Ovaherero were armed - or armed themselves - with guns. He remained closely associated with the European traders. Zeraua was the third son of Zemburuka and Zaapi, he had at least four sons himself (Kambata, Zacharias, Elias and Cornelius) and several daughters, one of them Albertine, who later married Manasse Tyiseseta. He and his lineage are much praised in Ovaherero traditions. Although he had consistently refused to be converted to Christianity, he requested Rhenish Missionary Viehe to baptise him with the names Christian Wilhelm in 1876, close to his death. He was the first Omuherero to be buried in a coffin, which is why the Ovaherero refer to that year as the "Year of the Coffin" ("ojotjikesa"). Although the Ovaherero leader Christian Wilhelm Zeraua was Maharero's senior, he declined in 1863 the leadership and Maharero became the supreme Ovaherero Chief. In 1867, he moved to Omaruru owing to the drought. In September 1876 the Ovaherero chiefs and William Coates Palgrave, Special Representative of the Cape Colony, hold the Main Conference of Okahandja. The letter to Cape Governor Barkly was signed by Maharero, Christian Wilhelm Zeraua from Omaruru, the Ovambanderu Chief, Salomo Aponda from Otjikango and Wilhelm Maharero, oldest son of Maharero. As witnesses the letter is also signed by missionaries Peter Heinrich Brincker, Carl Ludwig Hermann Hegner and Botolf Bernhard Björklund, and traders Heinrich Kleinschmidt, Robert Lewis and J.J. Christie. Christian Wilhelm Zeraua died in Omaruru on 29.11.1876. He was succeeded by Manasse Tyiseseta (resp. Chief Tjaherani according to other sources).
Taken from Biographies of Namibian Personalities by Dr. Klaus Dierks on line
Excerpts from "Memories of Several years in South Western Africa (1866-1871 by Thure
Gustav Een
On the afore-mentioned plain close to the mission (in Otjimbingwe) lived another less mighty chief Theraoa [Zeraua], whom the whites called Old Wilhelm [or Willem]; he had some 150 followers who had erected their huts around his dwelling. Page 44
Zeraua was at least 6 ft 4 inches tall, a little stooped with age, a kind of gentleman who, during the time when the copper mines in the area were being worked had had much contact with Englishmen and had a certain affection for the white man. He never rubbed his body with fat, but instead used water and soap, the latter article he often borrowed or, rather, received as a present from me during my numerous stays at the place.
The two chiefs were often invited for dinner by Andersson, during which Zeraua always behaved himself decently and ate with knife and fork....Maharero's lack of table manners combined with his dirtiness resulted in his being given a chair at the door during dinner, while Zeraua sat at the
table. This difference in treatment could naturally not be applied when the two chiefs came to dinner simultaneously without causing unpleasant repercussions, and therefore they were not invited at the same time.
Pages 42-43
Founding Father of the White Flag
Founding Father of Omaruru
Born in Tjakatjongo in the district of Ozongoto and he stayed in a place called Otjizingue today known as (Otjimbingwe) which was named by himself like that. He was the only King in that place, it was the main place in Namibia leading during that time as everyone met the King there, according to His nobility and hard working and the trust the people gained from Him, till the White people named Him (Ou Wilhelm), before He became a Christian.
During the year called Okurondeue (Rock Climbing) 1863, Ovaherero was under the colonial of Namas.
Father was Zemburuka and Mother was Katundure (Zaapi) of Peraa
Cousin to Katjamuaha Kamaharero Maharero (Red Flag) through mother's line
Christian Wilhelm Zeraua was a famous Ovaherero leader at Otjimbingwe. Zeraua, who rose to prominence in the 1850s as a leader of the Ovaherero, was a central figure in the process by which the Ovaherero were armed - or armed themselves - with guns. He remained closely associated with the European traders. Zeraua was the third son of Zemburuka and Zaapi, he had at least four sons himself (Kambata, Zacharias, Elias and Cornelius) and several daughters, one of them Albertine, who later married Manasse Tyiseseta. He and his lineage are much praised in Ovaherero traditions. Although he had consistently refused to be converted to Christianity, he requested Rhenish Missionary Viehe to baptise him with the names Christian Wilhelm in 1876, close to his death. He was the first Omuherero to be buried in a coffin, which is why the Ovaherero refer to that year as the "Year of the Coffin" ("ojotjikesa"). Although the Ovaherero leader Christian Wilhelm Zeraua was Maharero's senior, he declined in 1863 the leadership and Maharero became the supreme Ovaherero Chief. In 1867, he moved to Omaruru owing to the drought. In September 1876 the Ovaherero chiefs and William Coates Palgrave, Special Representative of the Cape Colony, hold the Main Conference of Okahandja. The letter to Cape Governor Barkly was signed by Maharero, Christian Wilhelm Zeraua from Omaruru, the Ovambanderu Chief, Salomo Aponda from Otjikango and Wilhelm Maharero, oldest son of Maharero. As witnesses the letter is also signed by missionaries Peter Heinrich Brincker, Carl Ludwig Hermann Hegner and Botolf Bernhard Björklund, and traders Heinrich Kleinschmidt, Robert Lewis and J.J. Christie. Christian Wilhelm Zeraua died in Omaruru on 29.11.1876. He was succeeded by Manasse Tyiseseta (resp. Chief Tjaherani according to other sources).
Taken from Biographies of Namibian Personalities by Dr. Klaus Dierks on line
Excerpts from "Memories of Several years in South Western Africa (1866-1871 by Thure
Gustav Een
On the afore-mentioned plain close to the mission (in Otjimbingwe) lived another less mighty chief Theraoa [Zeraua], whom the whites called Old Wilhelm [or Willem]; he had some 150 followers who had erected their huts around his dwelling. Page 44
Zeraua was at least 6 ft 4 inches tall, a little stooped with age, a kind of gentleman who, during the time when the copper mines in the area were being worked had had much contact with Englishmen and had a certain affection for the white man. He never rubbed his body with fat, but instead used water and soap, the latter article he often borrowed or, rather, received as a present from me during my numerous stays at the place.
The two chiefs were often invited for dinner by Andersson, during which Zeraua always behaved himself decently and ate with knife and fork....Maharero's lack of table manners combined with his dirtiness resulted in his being given a chair at the door during dinner, while Zeraua sat at the
table. This difference in treatment could naturally not be applied when the two chiefs came to dinner simultaneously without causing unpleasant repercussions, and therefore they were not invited at the same time.
Pages 42-43
Ovaherero Tribe
Founding Father of the White Flag
Founding Father of Omaruru
Born in Tjakatjongo in the district of Ozongoto and he stayed in a place called Otjizingue today known as (Otjimbingwe) which was named by himself like that. He was the only King in that place, it was the main place in Namibia leading during that time as everyone met the King there, according to His nobility and hard working and the trust the people gained from Him, till the White people named Him (Ou Wilhelm), before He became a Christian.
During the year called Okurondeue (Rock Climbing) 1863, Ovaherero was under the colonial of Namas.
Father was Zemburuka and Mother was Katundure (Zaapi) of Peraa
Cousin to Katjamuaha Kamaharero Maharero (Red Flag) through mother's line
Christian Wilhelm Zeraua was a famous Ovaherero leader at Otjimbingwe. Zeraua, who rose to prominence in the 1850s as a leader of the Ovaherero, was a central figure in the process by which the Ovaherero were armed - or armed themselves - with guns. He remained closely associated with the European traders. Zeraua was the third son of Zemburuka and Zaapi, he had at least four sons himself (Kambata, Zacharias, Elias and Cornelius) and several daughters, one of them Albertine, who later married Manasse Tyiseseta. He and his lineage are much praised in Ovaherero traditions. Although he had consistently refused to be converted to Christianity, he requested Rhenish Missionary Viehe to baptise him with the names Christian Wilhelm in 1876, close to his death. He was the first Omuherero to be buried in a coffin, which is why the Ovaherero refer to that year as the "Year of the Coffin" ("ojotjikesa"). Although the Ovaherero leader Christian Wilhelm Zeraua was Maharero's senior, he declined in 1863 the leadership and Maharero became the supreme Ovaherero Chief. In 1867, he moved to Omaruru owing to the drought. In September 1876 the Ovaherero chiefs and William Coates Palgrave, Special Representative of the Cape Colony, hold the Main Conference of Okahandja. The letter to Cape Governor Barkly was signed by Maharero, Christian Wilhelm Zeraua from Omaruru, the Ovambanderu Chief, Salomo Aponda from Otjikango and Wilhelm Maharero, oldest son of Maharero. As witnesses the letter is also signed by missionaries Peter Heinrich Brincker, Carl Ludwig Hermann Hegner and Botolf Bernhard Björklund, and traders Heinrich Kleinschmidt, Robert Lewis and J.J. Christie. Christian Wilhelm Zeraua died in Omaruru on 29.11.1876. He was succeeded by Manasse Tyiseseta (resp. Chief Tjaherani according to other sources).
Taken from Biographies of Namibian Personalities by Dr. Klaus Dierks on line
Excerpts from "Memories of Several years in South Western Africa (1866-1871 by Thure
Gustav Een
On the afore-mentioned plain close to the mission (in Otjimbingwe) lived another less mighty chief Theraoa [Zeraua], whom the whites called Old Wilhelm [or Willem]; he had some 150 followers who had erected their huts around his dwelling. Page 44
Zeraua was at least 6 ft 4 inches tall, a little stooped with age, a kind of gentleman who, during the time when the copper mines in the area were being worked had had much contact with Englishmen and had a certain affection for the white man. He never rubbed his body with fat, but instead used water and soap, the latter article he often borrowed or, rather, received as a present from me during my numerous stays at the place.
The two chiefs were often invited for dinner by Andersson, during which Zeraua always behaved himself decently and ate with knife and fork....Maharero's lack of table manners combined with his dirtiness resulted in his being given a chair at the door during dinner, while Zeraua sat at the
table. This difference in treatment could naturally not be applied when the two chiefs came to dinner simultaneously without causing unpleasant repercussions, and therefore they were not invited at the same time.
Pages 42-43
Founding Father of the White Flag
Founding Father of Omaruru
Born in Tjakatjongo in the district of Ozongoto and he stayed in a place called Otjizingue today known as (Otjimbingwe) which was named by himself like that. He was the only King in that place, it was the main place in Namibia leading during that time as everyone met the King there, according to His nobility and hard working and the trust the people gained from Him, till the White people named Him (Ou Wilhelm), before He became a Christian.
During the year called Okurondeue (Rock Climbing) 1863, Ovaherero was under the colonial of Namas.
Father was Zemburuka and Mother was Katundure (Zaapi) of Peraa
Cousin to Katjamuaha Kamaharero Maharero (Red Flag) through mother's line
Christian Wilhelm Zeraua was a famous Ovaherero leader at Otjimbingwe. Zeraua, who rose to prominence in the 1850s as a leader of the Ovaherero, was a central figure in the process by which the Ovaherero were armed - or armed themselves - with guns. He remained closely associated with the European traders. Zeraua was the third son of Zemburuka and Zaapi, he had at least four sons himself (Kambata, Zacharias, Elias and Cornelius) and several daughters, one of them Albertine, who later married Manasse Tyiseseta. He and his lineage are much praised in Ovaherero traditions. Although he had consistently refused to be converted to Christianity, he requested Rhenish Missionary Viehe to baptise him with the names Christian Wilhelm in 1876, close to his death. He was the first Omuherero to be buried in a coffin, which is why the Ovaherero refer to that year as the "Year of the Coffin" ("ojotjikesa"). Although the Ovaherero leader Christian Wilhelm Zeraua was Maharero's senior, he declined in 1863 the leadership and Maharero became the supreme Ovaherero Chief. In 1867, he moved to Omaruru owing to the drought. In September 1876 the Ovaherero chiefs and William Coates Palgrave, Special Representative of the Cape Colony, hold the Main Conference of Okahandja. The letter to Cape Governor Barkly was signed by Maharero, Christian Wilhelm Zeraua from Omaruru, the Ovambanderu Chief, Salomo Aponda from Otjikango and Wilhelm Maharero, oldest son of Maharero. As witnesses the letter is also signed by missionaries Peter Heinrich Brincker, Carl Ludwig Hermann Hegner and Botolf Bernhard Björklund, and traders Heinrich Kleinschmidt, Robert Lewis and J.J. Christie. Christian Wilhelm Zeraua died in Omaruru on 29.11.1876. He was succeeded by Manasse Tyiseseta (resp. Chief Tjaherani according to other sources).
Taken from Biographies of Namibian Personalities by Dr. Klaus Dierks on line
Excerpts from "Memories of Several years in South Western Africa (1866-1871 by Thure
Gustav Een
On the afore-mentioned plain close to the mission (in Otjimbingwe) lived another less mighty chief Theraoa [Zeraua], whom the whites called Old Wilhelm [or Willem]; he had some 150 followers who had erected their huts around his dwelling. Page 44
Zeraua was at least 6 ft 4 inches tall, a little stooped with age, a kind of gentleman who, during the time when the copper mines in the area were being worked had had much contact with Englishmen and had a certain affection for the white man. He never rubbed his body with fat, but instead used water and soap, the latter article he often borrowed or, rather, received as a present from me during my numerous stays at the place.
The two chiefs were often invited for dinner by Andersson, during which Zeraua always behaved himself decently and ate with knife and fork....Maharero's lack of table manners combined with his dirtiness resulted in his being given a chair at the door during dinner, while Zeraua sat at the
table. This difference in treatment could naturally not be applied when the two chiefs came to dinner simultaneously without causing unpleasant repercussions, and therefore they were not invited at the same time.
Pages 42-43
Family Members
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