Andreas Lambert

Who was Andreas Lambert?

Andreas Lambert, also: Andries Lambert, Nama name: ǃNanib, was the second Kaptein of the Kaiǀkhauan, a subtribe of the Orlam, in the eastern area of South-West Africa, today's Namibia.

In the 1860s the Kaiǀkhauan were severely weakened in their political and economic power. Their cattle died of lung disease, and smallpox befell the Nama community at Gobabis, including much of the Lambert family. After his grandfather Amraal Lambert died from this disease in 1864, Andreas took over the chieftainship from him and became the leader of the Kaiǀkhauan at the age of 20.

Under his leadership the clan regained its former fame in trade and cattle theft. He opposed the settlement of South African farmers, threatening to chase them away by force. Those Trekboere were in search of political independence from British occupation of the Cape Colony and had ventured into his community's area during their Dorsland Trek. Lambert also won a battle against a Tswana regiment around 1884, using his advantage of having firearms and horses.