Reverend Markus Kooper (12 September 1918 – 9 December 2005) was a Namibian activist, educator and religious figure. From
Hoachanas in the
Hardap Region, Kooper was one of the first Namibians who travelled to the United Nations to petition for his country's independence from
apartheid South Africa. He is buried at the
National Heroes Acre memorial cemetery outside of
Windhoek.
Kooper studied with the
Rhenish Missionary Society and received teacher training in
Okahandja from 1939 to 1942. He then taught at missionary schools in
Stampriet
Stampriet is a village in Hardap Region, Namibia. It is located 64 km north-east of Mariental and above sea level, in a barren area on the upper reaches of the Auob River where humans and animals alike depend on borehole water.
History
St ...
,
Gochas and Hoachanas until 1946 and became headmaster at Hoachanas in 1949. He also attended ministry training with the
African Methodist Episcopal Church and was ordained as
deacon. Kooper became the spiritual leader of his community and was appointed to Hoachanas' Pastoral Church in 1955.
In 1956, Kooper spoke before the United Nations on the issue of South West Africa along with
Reverend Michael Scott,
Mburumba Kerina,
Hans Beukes,
Fanuel Kozonguizi
Fanuel Jariretundu Kozonguizi (26 January 1932 - 1 February 1995) was a Namibian lawyer and politician. He served as permanent petitioner to the United Nations on the issue of Namibian independence, and was a high-ranking administrator in South-Wes ...
,
Sam Nujoma,
Ismael Fortune Ismael may refer to:
People
* Ismael Balkhi, a political activist from Afghanistan
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* Ismael Prego "Wismichu", a Spanish youtuber
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,
Jacob Kuhangua
Jacob Kuhangua was a Namibian politician, founding member of SWAPO
The South West Africa People's Organisation (, SWAPO; af, Suidwes-Afrikaanse Volks Organisasie, SWAVO; german: Südwestafrikanische Volksorganisation, SWAVO), officially know ...
and
Hosea Kutako.
The
Boere population of Hoachanas resented the presence of the 400-odd Nama residents and repeatedly tried to have them evicted. In 1959 they obtained an eviction order that was confirmed by the High Court in
Windhoek. On 29 January 1959, Kooper and his family was resettled by force to
Itsawisis, a village north of
Keetmanshoop
Keetmanshoop is a city in the ǁKaras Region of southern Namibia, lying on the Trans-Namib Railway from Windhoek to Upington in South Africa. It is named after Johann Keetman, a German industrialist and benefactor of the city.
History
Befo ...
, almost away from his home settlement. He was brought back by his community in November of that year.
Markus Kooper went into exile in 1960 to petition the UN again, this time as representative of the
South West Africa United National Independence Organisation (SWAUNIO). He returned only in 1976 and established a private school at Hoachanas but remained politically active. His community resisted all resettlement attempts throughout the days of apartheid.
Kooper later joined
SWAPO
The South West Africa People's Organisation (, SWAPO; af, Suidwes-Afrikaanse Volks Organisasie, SWAVO; german: Südwestafrikanische Volksorganisation, SWAVO), officially known as the SWAPO Party of Namibia, is a political party and former ind ...
and became a member of its Elders' Council. In March 2000 he was awarded the
Most Distinguished Order of Namibia.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kooper, Markus
1918 births
2005 deaths
People from Hardap Region
Namibian educators
South West African anti-apartheid activists
Namibian Christians
National heroes of Namibia