Manasse ǃNoreseb

Manasse ǃNoreseb Gamab (also Manasse of Hoachanas, circa 1840–1 December 1905) was the thirteenth Kaptein of the Khaiǁkhaun (Red Nation), a subtribe of the Nama people in Namibia, between 1880 and 1905. At the start of Imperial Germany's colonisation of South-West Africa, Manasse was one of the most powerful leaders in the area, and he was one of the first to recognise the negative influence of colonisation on peace and unity in Africa.

Manasse was the son of chief Gameb ǁNanimab and his wife Gamis. He was baptised at the mission station of Hoachanas in 1860 and married a Christian convert. When he was expelled from church in 1864 he also left his wife. Manasse then took a second wife and lived with the San people in the area of Hoachanas.

When chief ǂGoraxab ǁOasib (Barnabas) died in 1871, Manasse ǃNoreseb declared his candidacy to succeed him. Due to earlier conflict the missionaries at Hoachanas prevented him from becoming chief and installed ǀGâberob ǂGoraxamab (Petrus) in his place. When Petrus died in the Battle of Otjikango in the Herero–Nama War of 1880, Manasse again attempted to gain chieftaincy of the Khaiǁkhaun and succeeded. According to oral evidence, Manasse ǃNoreseb gave the order, or at least did not object to, the killing of Petrus.

From the start of his chieftaincy, Manasse ǃNoreseb had the powerful Hendrik Witbooi, leader of the ǀKhowesin (Witbooi Nama), as enemy. In 1882 he therefore signed a peace treaty with the Ovaherero under Maharero, staunch enemies of Witbooi. Chiefs Hendrik Windstaan of the ǁOgain (Groot Doden) and Jakobus Isaak of the ǀHaiǀkhauan (Berseba Orlam) also joined this treaty. In 1885, Manasse ǃNoreseb signed a peace treaty with the German Empire which had in 1884 established the colony of German South-West Africa.

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