5 notable traditional African leaders who stood their grounds against colonialists [1]

Samuel Maharero

Samuel Maharero

A national hero, Samuel Maharero was the Paramount Chief of the Herero people in Namibia, then known as German South West Africa. His justified rebellions against German imperialism triggered them to almost senselessly wipe out the Herero and Nama tribes in what is considered as the first genocide of the 20^th century. He died in 1923 while in exile in the British Bechuanaland Protectorate (now Botswana). He was however given a befitting burial on August 23, 1923, after his body was returned home.