Oorlam

The Oorlams (or Orlam) were Métis (resulting colonists Dutch and from namas alive in the Colonie of the Cape at the XVIIIe century before coming to be established in the South-western African under the control of Jaager then of Jonker Afrikaner.

More generally, Oorlam could be a Khoi or a " Hottentot mélangé" with the colonial cultural features (native tongue Dutchwoman or Afrikaans, use of the firearms, horses).

Origin of the word

The word oorlam would come from the Malayan “orang LAMA”, “man of experiment”, designating the slaves and Namaqua “trimmed” with the service of Europeans.

History

After having lived in contact with the Boer S, they constitute of social category at the beginning of the XIXe century, then in autonomous groups of language Afrikaans or nama.

In the years 1820, the nama of the line of Afrikaners imposed their hegemony until the years 1870 in all the center and the south of current the Namibia.

Under the reign of Jan Jonker Afrikaner, their domination is seriously fought by the other clans and rival tribes which ends in the years 1870.

In 1879, Jan Jonker still requires the protection of the British colonial authorities of the Colonie of the Cape which is refused to him.

With the battle of Otjikango the December 12th 1880, Oorlams are beaten by the warriors of Wilhelm Maharero then still in Osona.

In February 1885, Jan Jonker concluded a treaty with the German trader from Bremen, Adolf Lüderitz. It thus sells important territories to the German representatives then is placed under Germanic protection in January 1886.

The death of Jan Jonker Afrikaner the August 10th 1889 mark end of the political existence of the clan of Orlam Afrikaners.

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