Simon Kooper

Simon Kooper (Nama: |Gomxab; before 1860 – 31 January 1913) was the Captain of the ǃKharakhoen (Fransman Nama), a subtribe of the Nama people in Namibia from 1863 to 1909. He became famous for leading the Nama in the Herero and Nama War of 1904–1908.

Early life Kooper was born in Pella in the Northern Cape. It is not known when his clan moved to South-West Africa but in the mid-1850s the ǃKharakhoen under Piet Koper already resided there. At that time the ǃKharakhoen were one of the Nama clans allied to the Oorlam Afrikaners at Windhoek. When this alliance was defeated by merchant Andersson private army in the Battle of Otjimbingwe on 15 June 1863, Piet Koper was killed and Simon Kooper ascended to chieftaincy.

Conflict with Imperial Germany After supporting the ǀKhowesin (Witbooi Nama) under Hendrik Witbooi in their eventually unsuccessful resistance attempt towards German colonialism in South-West Africa, Kooper was forced to sign a protection treaty with the German Empire, represented by Governor Theodor Leutwein. This treaty was in effect until the Herero and Nama War of 1904–1908 began in which Kooper sided with Witbooi again.

Kooper was the last Nama leader still to fight against the Germans until 1908, and the only one never to be captured again after his escape from Shark Island. German troops launched several attacks at his group. In the last of these pursuits at Seatsub in March 1908, most of the Nama under Kooper were killed and his wife was taken prisoner, but he managed to flee again. This raid contravened the international law of the time because it took place outside German jurisdiction. German writers Hans Grimm and Fritz von Unruh took this incident as basis for one of their literary works, respectively, which made this episode known to the German public.

After this last attempt to capture him, German and British colonial forces negotiated a ceasefire, granting an annual allowance for the rest of his life in return for the cessation of all hostilities from his side. Simon Kooper received 100 £ in 1908, 75 £ in 1909 and 60 £ in the years thereafter from this agreement. He died in Lokgwabe, Botswana, on 31 January 1913.