List of Namibians

This is a list of Namibians who are famous.

Visual artists

 * Dieter Aschenborn, wildlife painter and designer of postal stamps
 * Hans Aschenborn, wildlife painter and illustrator
 * Uli Aschenborn, wildlife painter and sculptor
 * Margaret Courtney-Clarke, documentary photographer
 * Koos van Ellinckhuijzen (1942–2016), painter, designer of postal stamps and graphic designer
 * Tony Figueira (1959–2017), photographer
 * Joel Haikali, film director
 * Oshosheni Hiveluah, film director and writer
 * Tim Huebschle, film director and screenwriter
 * Adolph Jentsch, painter
 * Perivi Katjavivi, film director
 * Helga Kohl, photographer
 * Nicky Marais, painter
 * Cecil Moller, film director
 * Kerry McNamara (1940–2017), architect
 * John Muafangejo (1943–1987), woodcutter and linocutter
 * Richard Pakleppa, film director and screenwriter
 * Bridget Pickering, film producer
 * Wilhelm Sander (1860–1930), architect
 * Max Siedentopf, artist

Literary artists

 * Joseph Diescho (born 1955), novelist
 * Dorian Haarhoff, poet
 * Mvula ya Nangolo, journalist and poet
 * Sylvia Schlettwein, literary critic and short story author
 * Christi Warner, performance poet, playwright

Performing artists

 * Nǃxau ǂToma, bush farmer and actor
 * Atushe, Kizomba singer
 * Beate Baumgartner, pop singer
 * Sally Boss Madam, musician, songwriter
 * D-Naff, rapper
 * The Dogg, musician, songwriter
 * EES, rapper
 * Exit, musician
 * Gal Level, musician
 * Gazza, musician, songwriter
 * Jericho, rapper
 * Big Ben Kandukira, guitarist
 * Jackson Kaujeua, singer
 * Stefan Ludik, musician
 * Lady May, musician, dancer
 * Riana Nel, singer-songwriter
 * Nianell, musician
 * Franja du Plessis, pop singer, actress
 * Juanita du Plessis, country singer
 * Quido, rapper
 * Ras Sheehama, singer
 * Stella, pop singer
 * Sunny Boy, rapper, lyricist, songwriter
 * TeQuila, singer
 * Top Cheri, singer
 * Tre Van Die Kasie, kwaito singer
 * Shishani Vranckx (born 1987), singer
 * Christi Warner, singer, television presenter

Businesspeople

 * Tom Alweendo, Head of the National Planning Commission
 * Tangeni Amupadhi, editor of The Namibian
 * Johnny Doeseb, owner of Eleven Arrows F.C. in Walvis Bay
 * Johannes ǃGawaxab, governor of the Bank of Namibia
 * Monica Geingos, First Lady and owner of Stimulus Investments and many other companies
 * Benjamin Hauwanga, owner of the BH Group of companies
 * Frans Indongo, owner of Indongo Toyota, continental properties.
 * Gert Joubert, owner of Erindi Game Reserve
 * Robert Kahimise, CEO of the City of Windhoek
 * Gwen Lister, journalist, founder of The Namibian
 * Aaron Mushimba, mining magnate
 * Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun, African Business Leader of the Year, 2013
 * Harold Pupkewitz, owner of Pupkewitz Toyota, Megabuild, and many other companies
 * Iipumbu Shiimi, minister of finance, former governor of the Bank of Namibia
 * Sven Thieme, chairman of Ohlthaver & List
 * Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi, managing director of diamond conglomerate Namdeb

Clergy

 * Leonard Auala (1908–1983), Christian bishop of Evangelical-Lutheran Ovambo-Kavango Church (ELOC)
 * Shekutaamba Nambala, presiding bishop of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN)
 * Joseph Gotthardt (1880–1963), prefect of the Prefecture Apostolic of Cimbebasia, later bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Windhoek
 * Paulus Hamutenya (died 1932), pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
 * Bonifatius Haushiku (1932–2002), archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Windhoek
 * Obadja Iihuhua, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
 * Sakeus Iihuhua, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
 * Gideon Iitula, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
 * Zephania Kameeta (born 1945), former bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia
 * James Kauluma, sixth bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Namibia
 * Nabot Manasse, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
 * Leevi Gerson Max (1935–1997), pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1965
 * Ngeno Nakamhela (born 1945), former secretary-general of the Council of Churches in Namibia
 * Juuso Ngaikukwete, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
 * Matias Shikondomboro, pastor in Okavango, ordained 1942
 * Simson Shituwa, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925

Colonial period

 * Kaipkire (18th century), female Herero warrior
 * Jacob Morenga (1875–1907), guerrilla fighter, national hero

People's Liberation Army of Namibia personnel

 * Tobias Hainyeko (1932–1967), commander of the South West Africa Liberation Army (SWALA), predecessor of PLAN, 1962–1967
 * Lieutenant General Dimo Hamaambo (1932–2002), commander of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) 1967–1990 and chief of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) 1990–2000

Namibian Defence Force personnel

 * Major General Matheus Alueendo (born 1961), Namibian Army commander since 2019
 * Rear Admiral Alweendo Amungulu, (born 1963), Namibian Navy commander since 2020
 * Lieutenant General Solomon Huwala, chief of the NDF 2000–2006
 * Lieutenant General John Mutwa (1960–2021), chief of the NDF 2013–2020
 * Major General Peter Nambundunga (1947–2019), Namibian Army commander 2005–2011
 * Major General Charles Namoloh (born 1950), NDF Chief of Staff
 * Lieutenant General Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah (born 1952), chief of the NDF 2011–2013
 * Air Marshal Martin Pinehas (born 1962), chief of the NDF since 2020
 * Air Vice Marshall Teofilus Shaende, Namibian Air Force commander since 2020
 * Lieutenant General Martin Shalli (born 1954), chief of the NDF 2006–2011

Presidents and leaders of government

 * Sam Nujoma (SWAPO), first president of Namibia
 * Hifikepunye Pohamba (SWAPO), second president
 * Hage Geingob (SWAPO), first prime minister of Namibia and third president
 * Nangolo Mbumba (SWAPO), second vice-president and fourth president


 * Nickey Iyambo (SWAPO), first vice-president of Namibia


 * Theo-Ben Gurirab, second prime minister of Namibia
 * Nahas Angula (SWAPO), third prime minister
 * Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila (SWAPO), fourth prime minister


 * Hendrik Witbooi (politician) (SWAPO), first deputy-prime minister of Namibia
 * Libertina Amathila (SWAPO), second deputy-prime minister
 * Marco Hausiku (SWAPO), third deputy-prime minister
 * Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (SWAPO), fourth deputy-prime minister

Diplomats

 * Eddie Amkongo (SWAPO), former ambassador to Ethiopia
 * Martin Andjaba (SWAPO), ambassador to Germany
 * Bience Gawanas (SWAPO), African Union Labour Affairs Commissioner
 * Neville Gertze (born 1966, SWAPO), ambassador to the United Nations
 * Kaire Mbuende (SWAPO), former ambassador to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg
 * Margaret Mensah-Williams (SWAPO), ambassador to the United States
 * Monica Nashandi (SWAPO), former ambassador to the United States
 * Hanno Rumpf (1958–2019, SWAPO), former ambassador to the Benelux countries, Switzerland and the European Union
 * Nora Schimming-Chase (SWANU, CoD), former ambassador to Germany and Austria

SWAPO politicians

 * Ben Amathila, cabinet member
 * Clara Bohitile, deputy minister, central committee member
 * Dawid Boois, former governor of ǁKaras
 * Bernard Esau, trade unionist, independence activist
 * Ida Jimmy, national hero, independence activist, central committee member
 * Ella Kamanya, Pan-African parliamentarian and National Assembly member
 * Asser Kuveri Kapere, chairman of the National Council of Namibia
 * Marten Kapewasha, diplomat
 * Samuel Mbambo, central committee member
 * Steve Mogotsi, National Council member
 * Alpheus ǃNaruseb, cabinet member
 * Immanuel Ngatjizeko, cabinet member
 * Erkki Nghimtina, cabinet member
 * Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, lawyer and cabinet member
 * Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, former minister, independence leader
 * Piet van der Walt, deputy minister
 * Peya Mushelenga, member of parliament

Opposition politicians

 * Kenneth Abrahams (NNF), medical doctor
 * Ottilie Abrahams (NNF), activist, teacher and educator
 * Apius Auchab (UDF president)
 * Steve Bezuidenhout (RDP)
 * Moses Katjiuongua (NPF)
 * Katuutire Kaura, (PDM)
 * Fanuel Kozonguizi, (SWANU), first national ombudsman
 * Dirk Mudge (RP), pre-independence leader of government
 * Jeremia Nambinga, (RDP)
 * Ben Ulenga (CoD)

Traditional leaders

 * Justus ǁGaroëb (born 1942), Damara chief and politician
 * Hosea Kutako (1870–1970), liberation fighter and Herero chief, national hero
 * Samuel Maharero (1856–1923), Herero chief, national hero
 * Daniel Sitentu Mpasi (1934–2014), king of the Kwangali
 * Nehale Mpingana (died 1908), king of Ondonga, national hero
 * Mandume ya Ndemufayo (1894–1917), king of the Kwanyama, national hero
 * Martha Nelumbu (born 1930), queen of the Kwanyama
 * Kahimemua Nguvauva (1850–1896), chief of the Ovambanderu, national hero
 * Iipumbu Ya Tshilongo (1875–1959), king of the Uukwambi, national hero
 * Hendrik Witbooi ( 1830–1905), chief of the ǀKhowesin, national hero

Activists

 * Job Amupanda, youth activist who started the Affirmative Repositioning movement
 * Niko Bessinger, independence activist and politician
 * Pauline Dempers, human rights activist, coordinator of the Breaking the Wall of Silence movement
 * Kalla Gertze, former president of the Breaking the Wall of Silence movement and CoD politician
 * Alfredo Tjiurimo Hengari, political columnist
 * Evilastus Kaaronda, trade unionist
 * George Kambala, youth activist
 * Veronica de Klerk, women's rights activist
 * John Kwedhi, trade unionist
 * Blythe Loutit, founder of Save the Rhino Trust
 * Anna Mungunda (1932–1959), anti-apartheid activists, national hero
 * Rosa Namises, politician and women's rights activist, former member of parliament
 * Phil ya Nangoloh, human rights activist
 * Dimbulukeni Nauyoma, youth activist
 * John Pandeni, former trade unionist and member of cabinet
 * Immanuel Shifidi, guerrilla fighter
 * Emma Tuahepa, HIV/AIDS activist

Scientists

 * Roman Grynberg, professor of economics, University of Namibia (UNAM)
 * Nico Horn, theologian and professor of human rights and constitutional law, UNAM
 * André du Pisani (born (1949), professor of political science at UNAM
 * Gabi Schneider (born (1956), geologist
 * Tjama Tjivikua (born 1958), founding rector of the Polytechnic of Namibia

Sportspeople

 * Gaby Ahrens (born 1981), Olympic trap shooter
 * Collin Benjamin (born 1978), footballer
 * Johanna Benson (born 1990), Paralympic athlete and medalist
 * Jacques Burger (born 1981), rugby union player
 * Dan Craven (born 1983), cyclist
 * Merlin Diamond (born 1991), sprinter, national champion
 * Trevor Dodds (born 1959), golfer
 * Frankie Fredericks (born 1967), Olympic athlete and medalist
 * Prince ǃGaoseb (born 1998), rugby union player for the Tel Aviv Heat
 * Mannie Heymans (born 1971), cyclist
 * Max Katjijeko (born 1995), rugby union player for the Tel Aviv Heat
 * Kees Lensing (born 1978), rugby union prop
 * Ricardo Mannetti (born 1975), footballer and national football coach
 * Beatrice Masilingi (born 2003), Olympic athlete, U20 world champion
 * Athiel Mbaha (born 1971), deaf footballer
 * Christine Mboma (born 2003), Olympic athlete
 * Ali Nuumbembe (born 1978), welterweight boxer
 * Ryan Nyambe (born 1997), footballer
 * Harry Simon (born 1978), boxer
 * Razundara Tjikuzu (born 1979), footballer

Other

 * Christina Van-Dunem Da Fonsech, police officer
 * Michelle McLean, former Miss Universe, charity activist
 * Behati Prinsloo, model
 * Robbie Savage, football fan and socialite
 * Hulda Shipanga, matron