Martti Rautanen
Martti Rautanen (born November 10, 1845 in Tikopis , † October 19, 1926 in Olukonda ) was a Finnish missionary in southern Africa .
In 1880, Rautanen came to Olukonda in what is now Namibia at the invitation of Carl Hugo Hahn . Among other things, he translated the Bible in Oshivambo and is considered the founder of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN). In 1889 he built the first church in northern Namibia together with Karl August Weikkolin in Olukonda. A mission station followed in 1893. Both buildings still exist today and are among the National Monuments in Namibia . Rautanen was married to Frieda Kleinschmidt, the daughter of the German missionary Franz Heinrich Kleinschmidt .
Rautanen and his family found their final resting place in the local cemetery. Many of the Ondonga kings are buried here.
See also
Web links
- Literature by and about Martti Rautanen in the catalog of the German National Library
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Rautanen, Martti |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Finnish missionary |
| DATE OF BIRTH | November 10, 1845 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Tikopis |
| DATE OF DEATH | October 19, 1926 |
| Place of death | Olukonda |