Hendrik Witbooi (born 1830, actually !Nanseb ǀGabemab) was the Kaptein (Chief) of a Nama speaking Orlam group, the Witbooi (//Khowesen).
He emerged as a charismatic leader of the Nama during conflicts with neighboring tribes. Hendrik Witbooi was unwilling to submit to the new German colonizers and became their most dangerous opponent.
In his letters to the German colonialists, he insisted on his souvereignty and urged the other herero and Nama chiefs to resist submission.
Following the German assault on his settlement in Hornkranz, Witbooi resorted to guerrilla warfare.
For over a year, Witbooi and his warriors mounted resistance, but were then confronted by a superior German force and forced to sign a so-called "Schutzvertrag" (engl. protection treaty).
In this treaty, he pledged to render military assistance to the Germans.
When the Herero finally took up arms in 1904, the Witbooi initially fought on the German side.
After numerous German war crimes and on the day after von Trotha's order to annihilate the Herero (October 3rd, 1904), Hendrik Witbooi terminated the protection treaty and declared war on the Germans.
The Witbooi held their ground in a tenacious guerrilla war until Hendrik Witbooi died of a gunshot wound on 29 October 1905.
The resistance of the Witbooi collapsed along with him.