Jacob Morenga

Who was Jacob Morenga?

Jacob Morenga, also Jacobus and Marenga, known as the "black Napoleon," was an important figure in Namibia, then the German colony of German South-West Africa. He was chief leader in the insurrection against the German Empire which took place between 1904 and 1908, and was best known for forging an alliance between the rival Herero and Namaqua tribes.

Morenga was born to a Herero mother and Nama father and was educated by Christian missionaries and worked as a mineworker in South Africa.

Before the Herero and Namaqua War of 1904–1907, Morenga had participated in smaller, more localized insurrections which were taking place across German South-West Africa. Through these, Morenga proved himself to be an able tactician. However, it was through his three years of leadership of the anti-German guerrilla forces that Morenga gained the majority of his reputation. It often proved difficult for Morenga to maintain proper control of his armies, as their preferred methods of attack differed fundamentally. The Herero sought direct and open combat with German forces, while the Namaqua preferred more guerrilla-like tactics.