Gamib, Willem * † 15.06.1863, Otjimbingwe. Willem Gamib was baptised by Haddy in 1849. He was the cousin of Oasib, the major Nama chief and leader of the //Khauben or Red Nation. (In 1830 Oasibs father died, but Oasib was too young to serve as chief, so for ten years his sister, Games, served as the tribe's leader. In late 1849 Jonker decided it was better to sign an alliance with Oasib; he took advantage of Oasib, who began seeking allies against Jonker. Failing in this, he resumed raiding Hereros, but he was thwarted by another Nama leader, Willem Swartbooi. Oasib allowed Vollmer to work among his people in Hoachanas. Vollmer persuaded Oasib to agree to a peace signed at Kupferberg in 1855. Other chiefs involved were Willem Swartbooi and Jonker Afrikaner. Three years later, on 09.01.1858, a peace was signed at Hoachanas, designed to bring peace between all Namas. Oasib ran into trouble when he granted Kido Witbooi the right to settle at Gibeon. This was the beginning of problems, leading to several attacks by Oasib against Witbooi. Oasib died in 1867 - Grotpeter 1994:364-365). Willem Gamib was one of the Under-Chiefs of the //Khauben. After his baptism he lost interest in the mission affair, only to return back to Christianity ("[...] vom Geiste Gottes getrieben, als einen armen Sünder anmeldete und seine Sünden beichtete [...]") during Vollmer's time by about 1857. He became one of the strong supporters of Vollmer by 1861. "Dieser [Willem Gamib] ist auch der Einzige, dem ich bei der Absolution die Hände aufgelegt habe. Jetzt ist er eine Säule in der Gemeind, die mir viel tragen hilft. Vor diesem hat auch Oasib gehörig Respect und das ganze Volk dazu. Sein ganzes Wesen hat etwas Festes und Gediegenes; er spricht selten, wenn er aber spricht, dann schweigt auch Alles und hört nach seinen Worten. Dieser Mann ist, ohne daß er eingesetzt ist, ein rechter Aeltester der Gemeinde."1 In May 1863, Christian Afrikaner requested the +Oasib people to sign a contract with him against the Damara. He called Saul Shepherd as the person who would draw up the contract and have it signed. Vollmer did not want the people of Hoachanas to join forces with the Afrikaners, and there for specially asked Willem Gamib to "[...] +Oasib doch ja nicht unter die Afrikaner kommen zu lassen." Saul Shepherd returned from the trip to draw up the contract without success, because the Afrikaners did not turn up at the agreed place, but Willem Gamib did not come back, probably because he joined forces with Christian Afrikaner. Willem Gamib died later in a battle against the Herero at "Azab"2 [Otjimbingwe], probably on the 15.06.1863. Married: Children: Education: Other family members connected to RMG: Mission Stations: History with the RMG: 1 BRMG 1861:227-228. 2 RMG 1.582b:23r. --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------