In early 1904, tensions escalated between the German Empire and the Herero people of South-West Africa (modern-day Namibia), leading to one of the darkest episodes of
colonial violence in history. The Herero, under the leadership of Samuel Maharero, had risen in
rebellion against German rule, and the empire responded with overwhelming military force.
The conflict that followed would lead to the near-extermination of the Herero people in what is now recognized as one of the first genocides of the 20th century. This is a story of resistance,
survival, and the devastating consequences of colonial oppression. In the late summer of 1484,
two ships quietly slipped out of Lisbon harbor, embarking on a journey that would push the
boundaries of European exploration. These were the caravels of Diogo Cão, an explorer tasked by
King João II of Portugal to venture further south along the African coast than any European had ever
gone before. Following in the footsteps of his great uncle, Henry "the Navigator," King João
was determined to expand Portugal's exploration efforts and find a sea route to India and China
through Africa. On his earlier expedition in 1482, Diogo Cão had discovered the Congo but had failed
to find a way around the continent. This time, he set out with renewed determination. His ships
sailed along the lush shores of West Africa, passing the lagoons of the Niger River and the
mouth of the Congo. As they continued south, they explored the coast of what is now Angola,
finding natural harbors that would later become vital centers in Portugal’s growing slave empire.
As they sailed further south, the landscape changed dramatically. The vibrant green shores
gave way to the barren, desolate stretch of the Namib Desert. The land before them was
unlike anything they had ever seen – an imposing desert stretching 1,000 miles along the coast.
It was here, in this remote and unforgiving landscape, that they became the first Europeans
to set foot in what is now Namibia. Before stepping ashore, they carefully prepared one of
three stone padrãos they had brought from Lisbon. These stone markers, inscribed with the Portuguese
coat of arms and a dated inscription, were used to claim the land for the King of Portugal.
Despite this formal claim, the Portuguese never established control over the Namib.
The harsh environment and the lack of immediate resources discouraged them from returning to explore or establish settlements in the region. Cão’s padrão stood undisturbed for over four
centuries until 1893 when it was uprooted by a new European power that would go on to dominate
the Namib for the next three decades. The earliest known inhabitants of the Namib region were the San
people, often called the "Bushmen." Evidence of their ancient presence is found in the remarkable
rock paintings and engravings scattered across the mountains and caves of modern-day Namibia.
Around the 17th century, a new wave of migrants arrived—Bantu-speaking pastoralists who had
journeyed southward with their cattle, seeking new pastures. One group, known as the Herero,
pushed further south, settling on the central plateau, a region known for its rich grasses.
Having no centralized authority or king, they were governed by local chiefs whose leadership
was passed down through the maternal line. By the end of the 18th century, the Hereros
had established themselves as the dominant power on the central plateau, having a population of
about 30,000 to 40,000 people. In the early nineteenth century,
a wave of African invaders moved up slowly from the Cape in the south into the Namib,
bringing with them trade, new ways of life, and methods of warfare. They were the Nama,
a mixed-race people, often the product of unions between Dutch colonial settlers and
the Indigenous Khoisan peoples. They had developed a resilient and mixed culture, adopting some Dutch