A tribute to Namibia’s Sam Nujoma, an icon of Africa’s anti-colonial struggle

Gurjit Singh

Revered as the ‘Father of the Nation’ and a central figure in Namibia’s fight for independence, Sam Nujoma was widely perceived as a key revolutionary leader, alongside other prominent figures such as Nelson Mandela, Samora Machel, Agostinho Neto, Robert Mugabe, Kenneth Kaunda, Julius Nyerere, Hastings Banda, and Seretse Khama
First president of Namibia, Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, was last seen in public at the funeral of President Hage Geingob in February 2024. A few months later, in July, he was admitted to a hospital in Windhoek due to illness. This hospitalisation followed an earlier one in June.

On February 8, 2025, Nujoma passed away at a Windhoek hospital, where he had been admitted for the preceding three weeks. At the time of his passing, he was 95 years old. In response to his death, the Namibian government announced a period of national mourning beginning on February 9. His mortal remains were taken to several regions, including Omusati, Oshana, Erongo, Kavango East, Zambezi, Otjozondjupa, Khomas, and Karas, allowing Namibians to pay their respects. A memorial ceremony was held at Independence Stadium on February 28, 2025, followed by his interment at Heroes’ Acre on 1 March 2025.

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Namibia’s President, Nangolo Mbumba, paid tribute to Nujoma, calling him “a towering figure among leaders” who bestowed upon Namibia “the priceless gift of freedom”. His passing signified the loss of one of the last remaining figures from Africa’s anti-colonial struggle. Sam Nujoma was widely perceived as a key revolutionary leader, alongside other prominent figures such as Nelson Mandela, Samora Machel, Agostinho Neto, Robert Mugabe, Kenneth Kaunda, Julius Nyerere, Hastings Banda, and Seretse Khama.

Revered as the “Father of the Nation” and a central figure in Namibia’s fight for independence, Nujoma was known for his warm personality and connection with the people. Whether walking in his tracksuit at Windhoek’s Independence Avenue or choosing to forgo elaborate motorcades, he maintained a humble and approachable demeanour. His contributions spanned over four decades, from leading the armed struggle against South Africa’s apartheid regime to steering Namibia toward independence and development.

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Born on 12 May 1929 in Ongandjera, Namibia, Nujoma started his career working for South African Railways as a railway employee, said proudly UIC, the International Union of Railways. He became politically enthused at an early age and, in 1959, co-founded the Ovamboland People’s Organisation (OPO), an entity advocating Namibian self-governance. His leadership was evident in December 1958 when he played a crucial role in the Old Location resistance. Due to this, he was arrested and forcibly sent back to Ovamboland. In 1960, he took refuge in Tanzania, where he received support from Julius Nyerere. That same year, OPO evolved into the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO), with Nujoma serving as its first president. SWAPO would eventually spearhead Namibia’s liberation movement.

Due to his political activism, Nujoma spent years in exile, travelling extensively to rally international backing for Namibia’s independence. His diplomatic efforts gained widespread acknowledgement, securing alliances and support from numerous countries and global organisations.

When Namibia held its first free elections in 1990, four years before the end of apartheid in South Africa, Nujoma was elected as the first president of Namibia. His tenure emphasised national cohesion, economic progress, and social development. Serving for three consecutive terms from 1990 to 2005, he played a crucial role in shaping the country’s post-independence era. Even after stepping down from the presidency, he remained an influential figure in Namibian politics and was widely respected across the African continent as a senior statesman.

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Throughout his life, Nujoma championed the causes of education, healthcare, and infrastructure enhancement. In 2001, he published his autobiography, Where Others Wavered, chronicling his journey and contributions to Namibia’s struggle and governance. His efforts were widely recognised, earning him important awards such as the Lenin Peace Prize and the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize. The Namibian Parliament honoured him with the titles “Founding President of the Republic of Namibia” and “Father of the Namibian Nation”. In 2007, SWAPO acknowledged his legacy by designating him as the “Leader of the Namibian Revolution”.

On February 21, the UN held a special commemorative event to pay tribute to Nujoma. The Indian Permanent Representative to the UN was a lead speaker.

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India and Namibia have shared a profound and enduring relationship, with India being a steadfast ally during Namibia’s struggle for independence. India was among the first nations to raise the issue of Namibian independence at the United Nations and played a key role in supporting SWAPO diplomatically and materially. The first SWAPO embassy abroad was established in New Delhi in 1986, symbolising the strong ties between the two nations. India also provided military training and other forms of support to the Namibian leadership in exile.

In recognition of his contributions, the Indian government awarded Nujoma the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development in 1990. He later visited India on a state visit in 2003, further strengthening diplomatic relations. During the visit, he met then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and President APJ Abdul Kalam.

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I had the privilege of meeting President Nujoma during my official visits to Namibia. In September 2011, shortly after the 9/11 attacks, our delegation, led by Vasundhara Raje, was honoured with the opportunity to call on the Founding President. Later, in 2010, I visited again with MoS External Affairs, Preneet Kaur, and we were once more given the chance to meet him. He was informal, chatty, and deeply appreciative of India’s role in Namibia’s struggle. He often expressed his admiration for India’s model of pluralistic democracy and development.

My lasting memory of him is his personal hospitality—making us coffee himself, asking about our preferences for sugar and cream, and serving it in delicate cups with a warm smile.

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Rest well, Comrade Nujoma. They don’t make leaders like you often these days.

The author is a former ambassador to Germany, Indonesia, Ethiopia, ASEAN and the African Union. He tweets @AmbGurjitSingh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author.