Die geskiedenis van die Afrikaner-Oorlams in die tyd van Jonker Afrikaner, 1790-1861

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The history of the Oorlam Afrikaners began in the seventeenth century duringthe disintegration of the Cape Khoikhoi. Through this process a number ofindependent family groups came into existence. One of these, the OorlamAfrikaners, had the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. This allowedthem, despite their relative small numbers, to develop into a driving force in thehistory of Namaqua- and Namaland. The first two phases in this developmentwere led by Klaas Afrikaner and his son, Jager Afrikaner.At the time of Jager Afrikaner's death in 1822, his people were living atBlydeverwacht and Jerusalem in southern Namaland. On his deathbed hehanded over the leadership of the Oorlam Afrikaners to his second son, JonkerAfrikaner. This gave rise to dissatisfaction which eventually led to a split in theranks and the moving of Jonker and his followers northwards. Due to Jonker'smilitary skills and the advantages he and his followers had because of theiraccess to firearms and ammunition, they established a reputation for effectivewarfare. In the thirties this in turn encouraged a Nama tribe, the Red Nation, toask their help in defeating the Herero when they (the Nama) were driven fromtheir traditional pastures. After driving the Herero back to the area north of theKuiseb River, Jonker and his followers themselves settled in Central-Namaland,residing at places like Niais, Tsebris and eventually Windhoek.The Oorlam Afrikaners' position of power was vulnerable in one aspect - it wasdepended on the preservation of their access to firearms and ammunition for itsexistence and survival. Because of this Jonker initiated contact with themissionaries and traders by means of the English traveller, James EdwardAlexander, who visited him in 1837. This in tum set in motion a chain of eventswhich would clearly illustrate the interdependence of the indigenous people,missionaries and traders.Edward Cook and Joseph Tindall of the Wesleyan Mission Society were the firstmissionaries to visit the northern Oorlam Afrikaners. Their claim on Jonker,however, was not acknowledged by the Rhenish missionaries, HeinrichKleinschmidt and Carl Hugo Hahn, who settled in Windhoek with Jonker'spermission. Here an exceptional relationship developed between Jonker andKleinschmidt. Jonker's wish to reunite the Oorlam Afrikaners and theunwillingness of the Wesleyan missionaries of the southern Afrikaners to work together with the Rhenish missionaries, eventually forced Kleinschmidt andHahn to leave Windhoek.Meanwhile traders had arrived in the country. They supplied firearms,ammunition, brandy and other commodities to Jonker and his people on credit.By 1846 the indigenous people were so deeply in debt that they saw no otheroption than to start raiding the Herero in order to pay what they owed. Thus aperiod of violence and clashes across cultural borders and even within tribesbegan. Tension between Jonker and one of his Herero allies, Kahitjene, forexample led to an attack on Kahitjene and the destruction of the mission stationat Okahandja by Jonker in August 1850.A further escalation in violence was temporarily prevented by the arrival of theEnglish traveller, Francis Galton. He threatened Jonker with British reprisals.After his departure growing resistance of indigenous leaders against Jonkererupted in an attack on Windhoek in May 1854.Again tension in the country was suppressed by external factors, this time thearrival of the copper miners. They promoted peace because the continuation oftheir work was impossible without it. Through their mediation the MatchlessminePeace was concluded in November 1855. At the same time the way inwhich they played off the indigenous groups against each other, forced theseleaders to form a collective forum against the mining community. This wasdone in the Treaty of Hoachanas, concluded in 1858.In 1858, after moving around and residing at Grootwarmfontein and Okapuka,Jonker and his people moved to Okahandja. With Okahandja as base, hebecame involved in Ovambo politics. Two years later, when the outbreak oflungsickness made the obtaining of cattle in the interior impossible, his previouscontact gave him the opportunity to raid the Ovambo. He returned an ill manand died on 16 August 1861 in Okahandja. He was succeeded by his eldest son,Christiaan Afrikaner.After his death it became clear that the Oorlam Afrikaners owed the attainingof their position of power to the leadership abilities of Jonker Afrikaner.Through a combination of diplomacy and a display of power, and the way inwhich he manipulated people and group relations, he succeeded in setting thepace for events in the whole region between the Orange and Kunene Rivers.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University