Christian Wilhelm Zeraeua
Christian Wilhelm Zeraeua (often also written Zeraua ; * 18th or 19th century in Ojohera ( Otjimbingwe ); † November 29, 1876 in Omaruru ) was the first traditional leader of the Zeraeua , a Herero clan in what is now Namibia .
Zeraeua was the son of Zemburuka and Zaapi and had at least four sons (Kambata, Elias and Cornelius and Zacharias ) and various daughters, including Albertine (1851–1951), who later married Manasse Tyiseseta , a leader of the Ovaherero from Omaruru. Between 1850 and 1860 he became leader of the Ovaherero in Otjimbingwe, the group of the Zeraeua, also known as the White Flag since 1925 . He was instrumental in arming his people with firearms. Zeraeua was closely connected with the first European settlers and traded with them.
In 1867, Zeraeua moved to Omaruru due to the persistent drought . Here, with other traditional leaders, missionaries, and traders, signed an agreement with William Coates Palgrave , representative of the Cape Colony .
In 1876, shortly before his death, Zeraeua asked the Rhenish missionary Gottlieb Viehe to baptize him in the name of Christian Wilhelm . He was the first of his people to be buried in a coffin . For this reason the Ovaherero call the year 1876 "year of the coffin" ( otjiherero ojotjikesa ) even today .
Web links
- Zeraeua on FindAGrave.com (English)
Individual evidence
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional leader of the Zeraeua ( Traditional leaders of the Herero ) |
Manasse Tyiseseta |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Zeraeua, Christian Wilhelm |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Kaptein of the Otjimbingwer Ovaherero |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 18th century or 19th century |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Ojohera ( Otjimbingwe ) |
| DATE OF DEATH | November 29, 1876 |
| Place of death | Omaruru |