Moses Witbooi
Captain of the ǀKhowesin
About Moses Witbooi
Lived 1807 – 1888 (aged 80–81). Moses Witbooi was a Namibian traditional leader or chief.
Moses Witbooi (; 1808 – 22 February 1888) was the second chief of the Witbooi Nama or ǀKhowesin, a ruling clan of the Oorlam branch of the Nama people. He was the son of Kido Witbooi, founder of the clan. He became the de facto leader in 1870, but official chief only at his father's death on 31 December 1875. In the 1880s, he allied with Jan Jonker Afrikaner against the Herero people. Late in 1887 he was deposed by his son-in-law Paul Visser, who had him executed early the next year. His son Hendrik Witbooi soon after killed Visser and reunited the Oorlam under his rule.
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Important facts
People in Moses Witbooi's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Moses Witbooi's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Moses Witbooi?
captain of the ǀKhowesin
When was Moses Witbooi born?
Moses Witbooi was born in 1807 in South Africa.
When did Moses Witbooi die?
Moses Witbooi died on 22 February 1888 in Gibeon.
What was Moses Witbooi's occupation?
Moses Witbooi was a traditional leader or chief.
What nationality was Moses Witbooi?
Moses Witbooi was Namibian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Moses Witbooi. https://biography.guide/moses-witbooi/
MLA: "Moses Witbooi." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/moses-witbooi/.
Chicago: "Moses Witbooi." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/moses-witbooi/.
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