Sam Nujoma

Samuel Shafiishuna Daniel Nujoma (/nuːˈjoʊmə/ noo-YOH-mə; 12May 1929 - 8February 2025) na he be a Namibian revolutionary, anti-apartheid activist den politician wey serve three terms as de first presido of Namibia, from 1990 to 2005. Na Nujoma be a founding member den de first presido of de South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) insyd 1960.

Na Nujoma cam be involved insyd anti-colonial politics during de 1950s. Insyd 1959, na he co-found den serve as de first presido of de Ovamboland People's Organization (OPO), a nationalist organization wey dey advocate an independent Namibia. Insyd December 1958 na he be an organizer of de Old Location resistance wey na dem arrest den deport am to Ovamboland. Insyd 1960, na he escape wey na he go into exile insyd Tanzania wer na he be welcomed by Julius Nyerere.

Na Nujoma play an important role as leader of de national liberation movement in campaigning give Namibia ein political independence from South African rule. Na dem rename de OPO insyd 1960. Na Nujoma establish de People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) insyd 1962 wey na he launch a guerrilla war against de apartheid government of South Africa insyd August 1966 at Omugulugwombashe after de United Nations withdraw de mandate for South Africa make dem govern de territory. Nujoma lead SWAPO during de lengthy Namibian War of Independence, wich last from 1966 to 1989.

Namibia achieve independence from South Africa insyd 1990 wey na dem hold ein first democratic elections de same year. SWAPO win a majority wey na dem swear in Nujoma as de country ein first presido on 21 March 1990. Na dem re-elect am for two more terms insyd 1994 den 1999. Nujoma retire as SWAPO party presido on 30 November 2007.

Na Nujoma publish ein autobiography Where Others Wavered insyd 2001. He receive chaw honours den awards for ein leadership, wey dey include de Lenin Peace Prize den de Indira Gandhi Peace Prize. Na de Parliament of Namibia confer on am de titles "Founding President of the Republic of Namibia" den "Father of the Namibian Nation". Insyd 2007, na SWAPO name am "Leader of the Namibian Revolution".

Early life
Na dem born Samuel Shafiishuna Daniel Nujoma at Etunda, a village insyd Ongandjera, near Okahao, Ovamboland, South West Africa, on 12 May 1929. Na Helvi Mpingana Kondombolo (1898–2008) den Daniel Uutoni Nujoma (1893–1968) born Nujoma. Na ein mommie Helvi be a Uukwambi princess by descent, wey na dis fact later go reinforce Nujoma ein charismatic influence during ein political career. Na he be de eldest of ein parents dema eleven kiddies.

Na Nujoma spend chaw of ein early kiddie dey look after ein siblings den dey tend to de family ein cattle den traditional farming activities. Na ein educational opportunities be limited. Na he start dey attend a Finnish missionary school at Okahao wen na he be ten wey na he plete Standard Six, wich na e be as high as possible give blacks during de time. Insyd 1946, at age 17, na he move go Walvis Bay make he live plus ein aunt, wer na he begin ein first employment at a general store for a monthly salary of 10 shillings. Na he later work at a whaling station. While der na he be exposed to world politics by meeting soldiers wey komot Argentina, Norway, den oda parts of Europe wey na dem cam during World War II.

Insyd 1949, na Nujoma move go Windhoek, wer na he start dey work as a cleaner give South African Railways (SAR) while na he dey attend adult night school at St Barnabas Anglican Church School insyd de Windhoek Old Location, mainly make he improve ein English. Na he further study for ein Junior Certificate thru correspondence at de Trans‐Africa Correspondence College insyd South Africa.
Ein life matter
Na Nujoma marry Kovambo Theopoldine Katjimune on 6 May 1956. Na de couple get three sons den one daughter: Utoni Daniel (born 1952), John Ndeshipanda (1955–1993), Sakaria "Zacky" Nujoma (born 1957), den Nelago Nujoma (born 1959), wey die at 18 months while na Nujoma dey in exile. Na two decades elapse before ein wifey join am abroad. Na Nujoma ein first-born son, Utoni, be a high-ranking politician den member of SWAPO wey na he serve insyd both de Cabinet den de National Assembly. Na dem name ein youngest son, Sakaria, insyd de Panama Papers insyd 2016, wich na e reveal details about de business connection between am den alleged Sicilian Mafia member Vito Palazzolo.

Na dem arrest Nujoma ein poppie, Daniel Uutoni Nujoma, wey na ein sole "crime" be secof he be Nujoma ein father, at Okahao wey na dem send am to Pretoria prison insyd 1966. Der na he develop tuberculosis from wich na he die insyd 1968. Na Nujoma ein mommie, Kuku Helvi Mpingana Kondombolo, die insyd November 2008; she be reportedly more dan 100 years old.

Na dem publish Nujoma ein autobiography, Where Others Wavered, insyd 2001.
Illness, death den funeral
Na Nujoma make ein last public appearance at de funeral of presido Hage Geingob insyd February 2024. Insyd July 2024, na dem hospitalize Nujoma insyd Windhoek after na he dey feel ill. Na dem hospitalise am de previous month seocf an illness wey na he miss a public engagement.

On 8 February 2025, na Nujoma die at a hospital insyd Windhoek, wer na dem confine am for de previous three weeks secof an illness. Na he be 95. Na de Namibian government announce a period of national mourning over ein death dey begin on 9 February wey na dem order Nujoma ein remains to be transported to de Omusati, Oshana, Erongo, Kavango East, Zambezi, Otjozondjupa, Khomas den ǁKaras Regions. Na dem hold a memorial service at Independence Stadium on 28 February 2025, wich na e be followed by Nujoma ein burial on 1 March 2025 at Heroes' Acre.

Na de African National Congress insyd South Africa set ein party flags at half-mast in mourning give Nujoma, while na Cuba declare three days of national mourning give am.

Honours den recognition
 Date of award Honour/award title Awarding body 1973 Lenin Peace Prize USSR 1980 Frédéric Joliot-Curie Gold Medal World Peace Council 1984 Medaglia Pontificia (Pope's Medal) Anno VI The Vatican City, Italy 1988 Grant Master Order Merit: The Grant Cruz (Highest Order) Brazil 1988 Ho Chi Minh Prize Vietnam 1988 The Namibia Freedom Award  California State University, USA 1988 Honorary Citizenship of the City of Atlanta Atlanta, USA 1988 Recognition granted City den County of San Francisco 1988 Recognition granted City of Chicago 1988 Recognition granted City of East Palo Alto 1990 Indira Gandhi Peace Prize for Disarmament and Development India 1991 Medaglia Pontificia (Pope's Medal) Anno XIII The Vatican City, Italy 1991 Order of José Martí Cuba 1991 Ordre du Merite Congo Republic of Congo 1992 Chief of Golden Heart Kenya 1992 Order of the National Flag (First Class)  Democratic People's Republic of Korea 1994 "Grand Cordon" Decoration Tunisia 1995 Grand Master of the Order of Welwitschia Namibia 1995 Order of Liberty (Grand Collar) Portugal 1995 Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger  The Hunger Project 1996 Order of Good Hope (Gold) South Africa 2002 Order of Friendship Award Vietnam 2003 O.B.F.F.S.  Romania 2003 Fellowship Award of the Institute of Governance and Social Research Institute of Governance and Social Research, Nigeria 2004 Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana (Ghana National Highest Award) Ghana 2004 Founding President of the Republic of Namibia and Father of the Namibian Nation Namibian Parliament 2004 Lifetime Conservation Award  Cheetah Conservation Fund (na Nujoma be de international patron of dis organisation since 1991) 2007 Leader of the Namibian Revolution SWAPO Party of Namibia 2008 International KIM IL Sung Prize Certificate Democratic People's Republic of Korea 2010 Sir Seretse Khama SADC Meda SADC 2016 Order of Solidarity "El Mehdi Ben Barka" Cuba 2018 Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo South Africa 2021 Order of Francisco de Miranda First Class Venezuela

 Honorary doctorates 
Date of awardTitleAwarding university1973Honorary Doctorate of LawAhmadu Bello University, Nigeria1975Honorary Doctorate of Computer ScienceOmbwana University, Malawi1986Certificate of HonourUniversity of Ibadan, Nigeria1990Honorary Doctorate Degree of LawLincoln University, USA1990Honorary Doctorate Degree of LawNational University of Lesotho, Lesotho1992Honorary Doctorate Degree of TechnologyFederal University of Technology Minna, Nigeria1993Honorary Doctorate Degree in EducationUniversity of Namibia1993Honorary Doctorate Degree of LawCentral State University, USA1996Doctor of LawsUniversity of Atlanta, USA,1997Honorary Doctorate Degree of LawsRutgers, The State University of New Jersey, USA1998Honorary Doctorate DegreeRussian Economic Academy, Russia1998Honorary Doctorate DegreePeoples' Friendship University of Russia, Russia1999Honorary Degree of Doctor of Public ServiceLa Roche College, USA1999Honorary Degree of Doctor of LawsUniversity of Zimbabwe2003Honorary Degree of Doctor of ScienceAbubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Nigeria2005Honorary Doctorate in Public ManagementPolytechnic of Namibia2006Honorary ProfessorChina University of Geosciences2015Doctor of Philosophy in Peace and Conflict StudiesUniversity of Zambia

 References 

Insyd book den film
 Sam Nujoma, Where Others Wavered, The Autobiography of Sam Nujoma, London 2001
 Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation, epic film by Charles Burnett, the Namibian independence movement through the eyes of Nujoma

 External links 

 Official website
 Nujoma's interview with German magazine Die Welt (in German)
 Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation (2007) at IMDb

Category:1929 births
Category:2025 deaths
Category:Human
Category:Namibian people
Category:20th-century presidents insyd Africa
Category:21st-century autobiographers
Category:21st-century male writers
Category:21st-century Namibian writers
Category:21st-century presidents insyd Africa
Category:Grand Collars of the Order of Liberty
Category:Ho Chi Minh Prize recipients
Category:Namibia University of Science and Technology alumni
Category:Namibian autobiographers
Category:Namibian expatriates insyd South Africa
Category:Namibian independence activists
Category:Namibian Lutherans
Category:Namibian pan-Africanists
Category:Namibian revolutionaries
Category:National heroes of Namibia
Category:Herero Chiefs' Council affiliate
Category:Ovambo people
Category:Politicians wey komot Omusati Region
Category:People's Liberation Army of Namibia personnel
Category:Presidents of Namibia
Category:Recipients of de Friendship Order
Category:Recipients of de Lenin Peace Prize
Category:Recipients of de Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo
Category:South West African anti-apartheid activists
Category:SWAPO politicians
Category:SWAPO
Category:University of Namibia alumni