Lüderitz, Namibia’s timeless gem

Like many other places in Africa, Namibia has a history rooted in colonialism and while many scars of the period haven’t healed, there are beautiful monuments which also take us back in time.

Colonial architecture tells the stories of towns, their people, the history, the culture and traditions and often also paves the way to the future. Lüderitz, renamed from !Nami≠nÛs by German tobacco merchant Adolf Lüderitz in 1886, was restored to its former name in 2013, and certainly the town has a rich history worth telling.

My father, being a Lüderitz Buchter, would often tell tales of growing up at the coastal town situated next to the beautiful Namib Desert. He would talk of the tight-knit community, games they played in the streets, and how my grandfather, a fisherman from Cape Town, would often come to the town via the harbour, bearing gifts and the catch of the day.

Although these stories were interesting, I cannot place myself in those shoes to relive the experience. However, ‘Lüderitz: A Journey Through Time’, a book published by NovaNam with the research and assistance of Werner Hillebrecht, will transport you to the town through its captivating photographs by some of Namibia’s finest photographers.

The town’s geography is determined by the Atlantic Ocean, the dry Namib Desert and the bay which gave way to the town’s existence. These three factors, as explained in the book, play a key role in the town’s climate.

Although situated in the desert, the surrounding vicinities of Lüderitz are home to a number of diverse plant and animal life which are adapted to survive the often harsh environments of the area. Some of the plants include the Namib pomonae, named after Namibia and its occurrence at the Pomona diamond field, the aloe erinacea and, of course, quiver trees.

Oryx, desert frogs and majestic wild horses which escaped domestication 100 years ago roam the surrounding national park area, despite the struggle to survive.

The demographic of the town is still very diverse. The Nama people first occupied the land and the establishment of a trading station by Adolf Lüderitz saw an influx of migrant workers from the West Indies and Liberia. South Africans soon also saw opportunities in the harbour town and labourers from Cape Town and the Eastern Cape were hired for all kinds of work.

“The Capetonians – themselves already of many different origins, including former slaves from Indonesia – were numerous enough to form their own cultural associations and stage performances at festivities in Lüderitz,” the book mentions.

Through many chapters, the books takes the reader on a chronological journey from 140 million years ago to where the town is now; talks about the hunters, traders and whalers; the Reich; the development, decline and hope as well as the new beginning and the Lüderitz of tomorrow.

A noticeable feature of the town is its multi-coloured, German-colonial architecture that seems to be frozen in time, while the world around it advances at a tremendous pace.

According to the book, Lüderitz’s architectural heritage should be credited to the “brief period of prosperity during the diamond bloom”.

The history of the town is certainly a topic worth talking about, and its diversity and unique character makes it a gem of the country.

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