10 Most Famous Namibian People

10 Most Famous Namibian People

Namibia officially the Republic of Namibia is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean.  Namibia gained independence from South Africa on 21 March 1990, following the Namibian War of Independence. Its capital and largest city is Windhoek. 

The majority of the Namibian population is of Bantu-speaking origin mostly of the Ovambo ethnicity, which forms about half of the population residing mainly in the north of the country, although many are now resident in towns throughout Namibia. 

In this article, we look at the most famous Namibian people from various industries.

1. George Kambala

George Hidipo Hamba Kambala is a Namibian youth activist who along with Job Amupanda and Dimbulukeni Nauyoma co-founded a radical youth movement known as the Affirmative Repositioning in 2014 to advocate for land among Namibian youths. He also served in the SWAPO Youth League before his subsequent expulsion for his involvement in the youth movement.

In 2014 Following reports by The Namibian newspaper that Windhoek Mayor Agnes Kafula allocated a plot to a Big Brother Africa winner, Kambala alongside Nauyoma and Amupanda occupied land in a Windhoek suburb to raise more concerns on the land question in Namibia claiming many Namibians do not have access to affordable housing.

2. Christi Warner 

Christi Warner is a British Namibian-born R&B singer, songwriter, poet, theatre for development practitioner, and freelance journalist for the New Era ArtLife. 

Warner is probably best known for her role as television presenter Lady Makhosa on Soul Makhosa, a Namibian music video show broadcast on NBC television in 2003.

Currently, Warner has carved a niche as an indigenous Namibian poet, able to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with her male counterparts. In May 2008, Warner released her debut album, I Found My Rhythm.

3. Marten Kapewasha

Mr. Marten N. Kapewasha High Commissioner of Namibia by President’s Secretariat – Wikimedia Commons

Marten Kapewasha is a Namibian diplomat and politician. A member of the SWAPO Central Committee since 1991, Kapewasha was appointed Namibia’s High Commissioner to India in September 2005 following a six-year stint in the same position in Russia.

Kapewasha won a seat in the 1992 Regional Council elections in Wanaheda, which led to his representation of the Khomas region in the National Council. From 1994 to 1996, he served as Namibia’s Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport. From 1996 to 1999, he served as Minister of Lands, Resettlement, and Rehabilitation.

4. Samuel Nujoma

Sam Nujoma, president of Namibia from 1990 to 2005 by Marcello Casal – Wikimedia Commons

Samuel Nujoma is a Namibian revolutionary, anti-apartheid activist, and politician who served three terms as the first President of Namibia, from 1990 to 2005. Nujoma was a founding member and the first president of the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) in 1960. 

Nujoma played an important role as leader of the national liberation movement in campaigning for Namibia’s political independence from South African rule. He established the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) in 1962 and launched a guerrilla war against the apartheid government of South Africa in August 1966 at Omungulugwombashe, beginning after the United Nations withdrew the mandate for South Africa to govern the territory. Nujoma led SWAPO during the lengthy Namibian War of Independence, which lasted from 1966 to 1989.

5. Dimo Hamaambo

Lieutenant General  Dimo Hamaambo was a Namibian military commander in both the Namibian War of Independence as a SWAPO member and in independent Namibia as the Chief of Defence in the Namibia Defence Force. 

Hamaambo became the second commander of the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) in 1967 after the death of Tobias Hainyeko and held the position until independence was gained in 1990.

6. Shekutaamba Nambala 

Shekutaamba Nambala is a bishop emeritus of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia and a Namibian Lutheran Church leader. 

Nambala was the Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia and consecrated Bishop of the Western Diocese in 2012.

7. Atushe

Atushe is a Namibian musician, based in Windhoek, Namibia. With a career spanning nine years, he has produced numerous hits and five albums to date. 

Atushe started singing at an early age in a family choir, Sunday school then later on in a school choir.  Atushe won the best bodybuilder title in 2010.

8. Margaret Courtney-Clarke 

Margaret Courtney-Clarke is a Namibian documentary photographer and photojournalist, living in Swakopmund. Her work frequently explores the resilience of communities enduring the rapidly shifting landscapes of Namibia. Courtney-Clarke has made a trilogy of books on the art of African women: Ndebele (1986), African Canvas (1990), and Imazighen (1996). She has collaborated on books with David Goldblatt and Maya Angelou.

In 2007, Courtney-Clarke had solo exhibitions at New York State Museum and the African American Museum in Philadelphia. In 2019, she was shortlisted for the Prix Pictet for the book Cry Sadness into the Coming Rain (2017).

9. Frankie Fredericks

Frankie Fredericks by Eckhard Pecher – Wikimedia Commons

Frankie Fredericks is a former track and field athlete from Namibia. Running in the 100 meters and 200 meters, he won four silver medals at the Olympic Games. This made him Namibia’s only able-bodied Olympic medalist until Christine Mboma’s silver medal at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. 

Fredericks also won gold medals at the World Championships, World Indoor Championships, All-Africa Games, and Commonwealth Games. He is the world indoor record-holder for 200 meters, with a time of 19.92 seconds set in 1996.

10. Michelle McLean

Michelle McLean is a Namibian actress, writer, model, and beauty queen who was crowned Miss Universe 1992 in Thailand. 

McLean was 19 years old when she was crowned Miss Universe and became the first Namibian woman to win the title. McLean had been crowned Miss Namibia 1991 prior to Miss Universe, and also placed as the fourth runner-up at Miss World 1991.