Kakunde, Nathanael (Nathaniel) Christian * ?, ? † 1904, Omatakomountains. When missionary Dannert was requested by Eich on the 15.12.1905 to participate in the collection work in the vicinity of the Omatako mountains, he agreed on this mission and requested the Herero Asser Mutjinde (who he expected to be in Walvishbay) to join him. Since Dannert thought that he was expected to join a military convoy under Graf Schweinitz, Dannert waited for the convoy in Omaruru. When Amtmann Oberleutnant Kuhn arrived on the 17.12.1904 he was not aware of the task given to Dannert. Kuhn only send the Herero Nathanael [no other name mentioned by Dannert], with the translated version of the offer to surrender, out to the Omatako mountains. Dannert writes: " ... meinen treugebliebenen Herero namens Nathanael ...". Kuhn believed that the Herero would come "in droves", due to his letter, an oppinion which was not shared by Dannert.1 What seems not to be obvious from this note is confirmed in the report of what Willi Diehl termed the work for the mission "[...] Wir müssen diese zu treiben suchen, wie und wo sie sich uns bietet, und dürfen nicht wählerisch sein." that Nathanael who lived in Omaruru during the beginning of the war, did not join the Herero into war.2 Dannert later named three more Herero "who remained faithfull to him", to Kuhn, without mentioning their names in the letter to inspector Spiecker.3 On his first tour on the 18.12.1904, Nathanael passed Omburo, were he was confronted by 3 Herero who looked suspicious to him. Fearing for his life, Nathanael returned and found protection on the farm of Tatlow at the Omaruru river. Nathanael, indigener Christ und Mitarbeiter Dannert, vor dem Hintergrund des Herero-Nama-Krieges 1904 Teilnahme an den Auffindungszügen, die verstreute Hererokrieger und ihre Familien zur Aufgabe und Unterwerfung überreden sollen, dabei wird er 1904 in den Omatokabergen von Hereros erschossen.4 "That people are coming in, is due to Nathaniel, whom I sent out with his companion from the Omatako, to collect the people. Unfortunately Nathaniel has become the offer of his peace mission, at the third werft, the werft owner Kandjenaua shot him along with his escort."5 Gewald describes the four months before the deciding battle at Hamakari as the "phoney war", a time when the Herero did not attempt to sabotage the German telephone lines or attack the German supply lines. When the Herero retreated towards the plains between the Omuramba Omatako and the Waterberg, church services were held in the Herero laagers by the evangelists Julius (Okahandja) - this must have been Julius Kauraisa - , Christian (Otjiruse) - this must have been Christian Nathanael - , Elifas (Otjimbingwe) - this must have been Eliphas Karamo - , Elifas (Otjosazu) - most probably this was Eliphas Katuairua - , Josephat, Komatoto (sic!) - this must have been Josaphat Kamatoto - , Johannes (Okahandja) - this must have been Johannes Mupurua."6 "Missionary Dannert, who tried to get in contact with the Hereros in the Omatako mountains had to turn back without having achieved anything. Instead, one of his envoys, the Herero Christian Nathanael, who wanted to bring the message of peace by the Government together with the pastoral letter of the missionaries to the rebels, was shot dead together with his company by the embittered and mistrusting people. But the letters, which were collected from the corpses, had their effect afterwards. A few days later a number of Herero Christians surrendered to missionary Dannert in Omaruru and asked him for his intercession on behalf of them."7 "Miss. Dannert schreibt: "Dieser Erfolg, den wir hier in Omaruru vor den anderen Plätzen vorraushaben, [beim "Einholen" von kriegsmüden Herero] ist eine Frucht des unschuldigen Todes Nathanael und meiner Reise, wenn ich auch nicht behaupten will, daß wir für jeden, der sich gestellt hat, die direkte Veranlassung zu seinem Kommen gewesen sind."" 500 Herero had arrived in Omaruru, of which 2 groups have been transported further to Swakopmund and Karibib, some stayed behind. (January 1905).8 Married: Children: Nathanael Kakunde had a son, Eduard, whom he lost contact with during the Herero-war of 1904. He had the information that he was in the vicinity of the Etjo mountains when he joined missionary Kuhlmann and the German troops under Oberleutnant Graf von Schweinitz9 at Omburo by the 20.12.1904 on their way to the Omatako Mountains.10 Education: Other family members connected to RMG: Mission Stations: History with the RMG: 1 RMG 1.615c:125. 2 BRMG 1905:80. 3 RMG 1.615c:125r. 4 Altena 2001:465. 5 Gewald 1999:222. Quoting ECLIN Archives VII 31 Swakopmund 31.1, letter Dannert in Omaruru, 17.1.1905 to Vedder. 6 Gewald 1999:170, Footnote: Quoting Rust 1905:135 7 Büttner, F. (Friedrich) (Belgrad a. Persante) Erastus von Otjihaënena. Ein Bild aus der neuesten Herero-Mission in Deutsch-Südwest-Afrika. Verlag des Missionshauses. Barmen, 1914. 8 BRMG 1905:80. 9 Nuhn writes that von Schweinitz made a reconnaissance trip along the Otjosondjou-Omuramba, setting off from Otjimbinde (sic!) in March 1905. He found the most gruesome remains of the thousands of Herero while they were attempting to escape. Nuhn 1989:289. 10 RMG 1.615c:126r. --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------