List of Namibians

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This is a list of Namibians who are famous.

Artists[edit]

Visual artists[edit]

Dieter Aschenborn, wildlife painter and designer of postal stamps
Hans Aschenborn, wildlife painter and illustrator
Uli Aschenborn, wildlife painter and sculptor
Margaret Courtney-Clarke, documentary photographer
Koos van Ellinckhuijzen (1942–2016), painter, designer of postal stamps and graphic designer
Tony Figueira (1959–2017), photographer
Joel Haikali, film director
Oshosheni Hiveluah, film director and writer
Tim Huebschle, film director and screenwriter
Adolph Jentsch, painter
Perivi Katjavivi, film director
Helga Kohl, photographer
Nicky Marais, painter
Cecil Moller, film director
Kerry McNamara (1940–2017), architect
John Muafangejo (1943–1987), woodcutter and linocutter
Richard Pakleppa, film director and screenwriter
Bridget Pickering, film producer
Wilhelm Sander (1860–1930), architect
Max Siedentopf, artist

Literary artists[edit]

Joseph Diescho (born 1955), novelist
Dorian Haarhoff, poet
Mvula ya Nangolo, journalist and poet
Sylvia Schlettwein, literary critic and short story author
Christi Warner, performance poet, playwright

Performing artists[edit]

Nǃxau ǂToma, bush farmer and actor
Atushe, Kizomba singer
Beate Baumgartner, pop singer
Sally Boss Madam, musician, songwriter^[1]
D-Naff, rapper
The Dogg, musician, songwriter
EES, rapper
Exit, musician
Gal Level, musician
Gazza, musician, songwriter
Jericho, rapper
Big Ben Kandukira, guitarist
Jackson Kaujeua, singer
Stefan Ludik, musician
Lady May, musician, dancer
Riana Nel, singer-songwriter
Nianell, musician
Franja du Plessis, pop singer, actress
Juanita du Plessis, country singer
Quido, rapper
Ras Sheehama, singer
Stella, pop singer
Sunny Boy, rapper, lyricist, songwriter
TeQuila, singer
Top Cheri, singer
Tre Van Die Kasie, kwaito singer
Shishani Vranckx (born 1987), singer
Christi Warner, singer, television presenter

Businesspeople[edit]

Tom Alweendo, Head of the National Planning Commission
Tangeni Amupadhi, editor of The Namibian
Johnny Doeseb, owner of Eleven Arrows F.C. in Walvis Bay
Johannes ǃGawaxab, governor of the Bank of Namibia
Monica Geingos, First Lady and owner of Stimulus Investments and many other companies
Benjamin Hauwanga, owner of the BH Group of companies
Frans Indongo, owner of Indongo Toyota, continental properties.
Gert Joubert, owner of Erindi Game Reserve
Robert Kahimise, CEO of the City of Windhoek
Gwen Lister, journalist, founder of The Namibian
Aaron Mushimba, mining magnate
Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun, African Business Leader of the Year, 2013
Harold Pupkewitz, owner of Pupkewitz Toyota, Megabuild, and many other companies
Iipumbu Shiimi, minister of finance, former governor of the Bank of Namibia
Sven Thieme, chairman of Ohlthaver & List
Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi, managing director of diamond conglomerate Namdeb

Clergy[edit]

Leonard Auala (1908–1983), Christian bishop of Evangelical-Lutheran Ovambo-Kavango Church (ELOC)
Shekutaamba Nambala, presiding bishop of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN)^[2]
Joseph Gotthardt (1880–1963), prefect of the Prefecture Apostolic of Cimbebasia, later bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Windhoek
Paulus Hamutenya (died 1932), pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
Bonifatius Haushiku (1932–2002), archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Windhoek
Obadja Iihuhua, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
Sakeus Iihuhua, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
Gideon Iitula, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
Zephania Kameeta (born 1945), former bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia
James Kauluma, sixth bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Namibia
Nabot Manasse, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
Leevi Gerson Max (1935–1997), pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1965
Ngeno Nakamhela (born 1945), former secretary-general of the Council of Churches in Namibia
Juuso Ngaikukwete, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
Matias Shikondomboro, pastor in Okavango, ordained 1942
Simson Shituwa, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925

Military leaders[edit]

Colonial period[edit]

Kaipkire (18th century), female Herero warrior
Jacob Morenga (1875–1907), guerrilla fighter, national hero

People's Liberation Army of Namibia personnel[edit]

Tobias Hainyeko (1932–1967), commander of the South West Africa Liberation Army (SWALA), predecessor of PLAN, 1962–1967
Lieutenant General Dimo Hamaambo (1932–2002), commander of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) 1967–1990 and chief of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) 1990–2000

Namibian Defence Force personnel[edit]

Major General Matheus Alueendo (born 1961), Namibian Army commander since 2019
Rear Admiral Alweendo Amungulu, (born 1963), Namibian Navy commander since 2020
Lieutenant General Solomon Huwala, chief of the NDF 2000–2006
Lieutenant General John Mutwa (1960–2021), chief of the NDF 2013–2020
Major General Peter Nambundunga (1947–2019), Namibian Army commander 2005–2011
Major General Charles Namoloh (born 1950), NDF Chief of Staff
Lieutenant General Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah (born 1952), chief of the NDF 2011–2013
Air Marshal Martin Pinehas (born 1962), chief of the NDF since 2020
Air Vice Marshall Teofilus Shaende, Namibian Air Force commander since 2020
Lieutenant General Martin Shalli (born 1954), chief of the NDF 2006–2011

Politicians[edit]

Presidents and leaders of government[edit]

Sam Nujoma (SWAPO), first president of Namibia
Hifikepunye Pohamba (SWAPO), second president
Hage Geingob (SWAPO), first prime minister of Namibia and third president
Nangolo Mbumba (SWAPO), second vice-president and fourth president

Nickey Iyambo (SWAPO), first vice-president of Namibia

Theo-Ben Gurirab, second prime minister of Namibia
Nahas Angula (SWAPO), third prime minister
Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila (SWAPO), fourth prime minister

Hendrik Witbooi (politician) (SWAPO), first deputy-prime minister of Namibia
Libertina Amathila (SWAPO), second deputy-prime minister
Marco Hausiku (SWAPO), third deputy-prime minister
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (SWAPO), fourth deputy-prime minister

Diplomats[edit]

Eddie Amkongo (SWAPO), former ambassador to Ethiopia
Martin Andjaba (SWAPO), ambassador to Germany
Bience Gawanas (SWAPO), African Union Labour Affairs Commissioner
Neville Gertze (born 1966, SWAPO), ambassador to the United Nations
Kaire Mbuende (SWAPO), former ambassador to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg
Margaret Mensah-Williams (SWAPO), ambassador to the United States
Monica Nashandi (SWAPO), former ambassador to the United States
Hanno Rumpf (1958–2019, SWAPO), former ambassador to the Benelux countries, Switzerland and the European Union
Nora Schimming-Chase (SWANU, CoD), former ambassador to Germany and Austria

SWAPO politicians[edit]

Ben Amathila, cabinet member
Clara Bohitile, deputy minister, central committee member
Dawid Boois, former governor of ǁKaras
Bernard Esau, trade unionist, independence activist
Ida Jimmy, national hero, independence activist, central committee member
Ella Kamanya, Pan-African parliamentarian and National Assembly member
Asser Kuveri Kapere, chairman of the National Council of Namibia
Marten Kapewasha, diplomat
Samuel Mbambo, central committee member
Steve Mogotsi, National Council member
Alpheus ǃNaruseb, cabinet member
Immanuel Ngatjizeko, cabinet member
Erkki Nghimtina, cabinet member
Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, lawyer and cabinet member
Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, former minister, independence leader
Piet van der Walt, deputy minister
Peya Mushelenga, member of parliament

Opposition politicians[edit]

Kenneth Abrahams (NNF), medical doctor
Ottilie Abrahams (NNF), activist, teacher and educator
Steve Bezuidenhout (RDP)
Moses Katjiuongua (NPF)
Katuutire Kaura, (PDM)
Fanuel Kozonguizi, (SWANU), first national ombudsman
Dirk Mudge (RP), pre-independence leader of government
Jeremia Nambinga, (RDP)
Ben Ulenga (CoD)

Traditional leaders[edit]

Justus ǁGaroëb (born 1942), Damara chief and politician
Hosea Kutako (1870–1970), liberation fighter and Herero chief, national hero
Samuel Maharero (1856–1923), Herero chief, national hero
Daniel Sitentu Mpasi (1934–2014), king of the Kwangali
Nehale Mpingana (died 1908), king of Ondonga, national hero
Mandume ya Ndemufayo (1894–1917), king of the Kwanyama, national hero
Martha Nelumbu (born 1930), queen of the Kwanyama
Kahimemua Nguvauva (1850–1896), chief of the Ovambanderu, national hero
Iipumbu Ya Tshilongo (1875–1959), king of the Uukwambi, national hero
Hendrik Witbooi (c. 1830–1905), chief of the ǀKhowesin, national hero

Activists[edit]

Job Amupanda, youth activist who started the Affirmative Repositioning movement
Niko Bessinger, independence activist and politician
Pauline Dempers, human rights activist, coordinator of the Breaking the Wall of Silence movement
Kalla Gertze, former president of the Breaking the Wall of Silence movement and CoD politician
Alfredo Tjiurimo Hengari, political columnist
Evilastus Kaaronda, trade unionist
George Kambala, youth activist
Veronica de Klerk, women's rights activist
John Kwedhi, trade unionist
Blythe Loutit, founder of Save the Rhino Trust
Anna Mungunda (1932–1959), anti-apartheid activists, national hero
Rosa Namises, politician and women's rights activist, former member of parliament
Phil ya Nangoloh, human rights activist
Dimbulukeni Nauyoma, youth activist
John Pandeni, former trade unionist and member of cabinet
Immanuel Shifidi, guerrilla fighter
Emma Tuahepa, HIV/AIDS activist

Scientists[edit]

Roman Grynberg, professor of economics, University of Namibia (UNAM)
Nico Horn, theologian and professor of human rights and constitutional law, UNAM
André du Pisani (born (1949), professor of political science at UNAM
Gabi Schneider (born (1956), geologist
Tjama Tjivikua (born 1958), founding rector of the Polytechnic of Namibia

Sportspeople[edit]

Gaby Ahrens (born 1981), Olympic trap shooter
Collin Benjamin (born 1978), footballer
Johanna Benson (born 1990), Paralympic athlete and medalist
Jacques Burger (born 1981), rugby union player
Dan Craven (born 1983), cyclist
Merlin Diamond (born 1991), sprinter, national champion
Trevor Dodds (born 1959), golfer
Frankie Fredericks (born 1967), Olympic athlete and medalist
Prince ǃGaoseb (born 1998), rugby union player for the Tel Aviv Heat
Mannie Heymans (born 1971), cyclist
Max Katjijeko (born 1995), rugby union player for the Tel Aviv Heat
Kees Lensing (born 1978), rugby union prop
Ricardo Mannetti (born 1975), footballer and national football coach
Beatrice Masilingi (born 2003), Olympic athlete, U20 world champion
Athiel Mbaha (born 1971), deaf footballer
Christine Mboma (born 2003), Olympic athlete
Ali Nuumbembe (born 1978), welterweight boxer
Ryan Nyambe (born 1997), footballer
Harry Simon (born 1978), boxer
Razundara Tjikuzu (born 1979), footballer

Other[edit]

Christina Van-Dunem Da Fonsech, police officer
Michelle McLean, former Miss Universe, charity activist
Behati Prinsloo, model
Robbie Savage, football fan and socialite
Hulda Shipanga, matron

References[edit]

^ Neshiko, Selma (19 August 2016). "Sally nomination at All Africa Music Awards". New Era.
^ Shibute, Oswald (15 October 2013). "Okahao ELCIN parishioners split". The Namibian.

[1] Neshiko, Selma (19 August 2016). "Sally nomination at All Africa Music Awards". New Era.

[2] Shibute, Oswald (15 October 2013). "Okahao ELCIN parishioners split". The Namibian.

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