Nujoma’s home: A tribute to history and nature

… ‘A place where everyone was welcome’

The home of Namibia’s first president, Sam Nujoma, reflects a rich history, personal values and hospitality.

The brownish house is nestled between Windhoek’s Avis mountains, surrounded by lush greenery after recent good rains.

The Namibian visited the residence on Wednesday to get a glimpse of the place where our founding president used to host several local and international VIP guests, including Zambia’s first president, Kenneth Kaunda, and Ghana’s former president, Jerry Rawlings.

The house consists of a reception area, the family’s private living area, and employees’ quarters.

It is filled with well-loved plants, especially roses, rumoured to be Nujoma’s favourite.

All the buildings on the property are adorned by Swapo flags.

Four tall palm trees rise like fingers pointing to the sky at the entrance of the residence, along with metal sculptures resembling musical flutes.

“Don’t stand there – this is a lightning hotspot,” a staff member warns.

As you enter, you’re greeted by marble floors, soaring ceilings, intricate lighting, and a hymn softly playing through speakers somewhere in the background.

The reception area is filled with flowers and photos of Nujoma and his family in traditional Odelela outfits.

Among the photos are two of the most important women in his life: his mother, Helvi Kondombolo, and his wife, Kovambo.

There are also photos of Nujoma at different stages of his political career.

Tucked into the back of the reception area is a private living room, where he used to welcome important guests.

The room feartures two elaborate chandeliers, shiny couches, awards, calabashes and photos of the Nujomas on their wedding day in 1956.

More photos of Nujoma decorate the walls – this time of him smiling and shaking people’s hands.

There are portraits of him with Nelson Mandela, Kaunda, Robert Mugabe and Fidel Castro.

NEED FOR SPACE

In 2015, the government demolished Nujoma’s initial residence, an old house on the 100-year-old German farm, donated to him by Swapo before independence.

Former senior special assistant in the Office of the President John Nauta says the house was demolished due to engineers’ concerns that it was too old to renovate.

The founding president also had a desire for a more spacious home.

“The architecture behind the home was inspired by his love for hosting guests. The home was bought before Nujoma returned to Namibia as a gift from Swapo,” he says.

GREEN FINGERS

The homestead’s gardener, John Rufero, who has been working for the Nujomas for 13 years, says the former president had a great appreciation for gardening.

“Tate Sam was someone who loved green things … cultivating. He really liked planting things, and he liked things to be clean,” he says.

Rufero, who ensures the landscape is taken care of, remembers Nujoma’s heartbreak when his beautiful garden was destroyed in the demolition process in 2015.

They planted orange, lemon, mango and palm trees, as well as bougainvilleas, the gardener says.

“Nujoma didn’t like trees that did not bear fruits,” he says.

FAMILY LESSONS

Betty Wilbard, who has worked for the Nujoma household for 42 years, says Nujoma valued family time and would often spend time with his children and grandchildren around a fire.

“Tate and memekulu would sit around the fire or the big table to share lessons and tell them about their time in exile,” she says.

Wilbard says the founding president’s home was open to all his guests.

“It wasn’t tate Nujoma’s home alone, but a place where he welcomed everyone.”

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