Deformation of royal power in Ondanga under South African colonial rule (1940-1970)

Abstract

No abstract provided. The following is taken from the Introduction:

South Africa found the inhabitants under the strong leadership of their traditional rulers known as kings. South Africa then used force in order to conquer/annex the country. It is interesting to note that since the arrival of the South African colonial government in South West Africa, the traditional leadership had been totally deformed. Deformation can be defined as 'spoiling the form' or 'putting something out of shape'. In this regard South African colonial rule put the traditional leadership out of shape as its government was not built on existing traditional power but was simply imposed upon the country as such

Much had been written about Namibian history, e. g. the coming of the intruders, missionaries, Germans, the South African colonial period, the struggle for freedom and her position in the international world as well as the most significant events and negotiations that led to her Independence on 21st March 1990. Likewise, much about Ovambo history had been written either by missionaries, traders or Native Commissioners, among whom Cocky Hahn was the most significant one. Williams also gave a vivid picture of Ovambo kingdoms in the pre-colonial kingdom up to 1920. The writer is very much impressed by the good. work of Gordon and Fraenkel et al. The writer simply wants to add to what has already been written and would-try to give a traditional point of view as far as royal and traditional power under South African colonial rule between 1940 -1970 is concerned. This is done by consulting three main groups of Ovambo society: members of the royal clan represented by Lucia Shipena, headmen represented by Asser Sam, sub-headmen represented by Magano Petrus and commoners represented by Hileni Shilumbu and Ester Ilovu. The main aim is to represent the inarticulate masses in order to give different views with regard to the extent, if any, to which royal power had been deformed in Ondonga

The writer is convinced that much in Namibian history has been left out about the role played by the traditional rulers as far as their royal power was concerned: (a) Comparison of their royal power before and during the South African colonial rule, (b) Their position as traditional rulers, (c) Changes in their political powers, (d) Their responsibilities and rights as well as their authority over their subjects, (e) The fact that royal power of the traditional rulers had been totally deformed and that they became mere tools in the hands of the South African governors and Native Commissioners as they never had any control over significant issues that affected their subjects and their lives

The writer also tries to prove that traditional rulers became victims of the system as demonstrated in the case study of King Martin Ashikoto

This thesis derives from a dire concern with the situation of the traditional royal class in Ondonga during the period 1940 -1970. The past is referred to solely to enable the reader to understand how the present situation came into being, as well as to anticipate what the future will hold. It is an analysis of the deformation of royal power of traditional rulers in Namibia, more specifically in Ovambo tribes. This study, however, does not include all seven tribes in Ovambo, but concentrates on Ondonga as one of the three tribes (Ongandjera, Uukwaluudhi and Ondonga) that still retain traditional royal leadership. Because of pressure from the colonial government, royal power in Uukwanyama and Uukwambi, for example, totally disappeared

The first chapter. is a discussion on the intervention of South African rule: the traditional structure of Ondonga government and that of the South African colonial one. It also deals with the impact of South African colonial policies on kingship

Chapter II deals with the old and the new with regard to the status and roles of the kings, their options and pressure and restrictions that they experienced under South African colonial rule

The third chapter concerns the deformation of the royal power and its consequences. The writer would like to discuss King Martin Ashikoto as but one of the kings 'who took law into his own power'

In conclusion the writer tries to prove the extent to which royal power in Ondonga as well as the position. of. royal power of traditional rulers in Ondonga, today. Furthermore, this study is concerned with the analysis of the relationship between the royal members and their subjects. The emphasis is on the changes in the responsibilities of the king's political power and his authority in matters affecting his people, as well as the total take-over of the Native Commissioners which resulted in the loss of respect of most subjects for their traditional rulers and the way they put their hope and trust in the South African colonial government as their 'salvation' when things got worse in their traditional courts

Hopefully the few facts and short interpretation contained in this analysis may provide some insight into the extent to which the royal power of traditional rulers had been deformed, as well as their position today

Footnotes: 1 Putz, Von Egidy and Caplan (ed.) : Political Who's Who of Namibia, p. 268