Namibia pays tribute to Conradie
A flame who lit Namibia’s path to freedom
A fearless revolutionary, political strategist, broadcaster and cultural steward, Kephes Harry '/Awasab' Conradie was a pivotal figure in Namibia's liberation struggle.
Eleven years after his passing, Namibia prepares to honour one of its fiercest freedom fighters, Kephes Harry '/Awasab' Conradie, also known to many as ‘King Jury’, with the unveiling of his tombstone at Katutura Cemetery this Saturday at 06:00 in the morning.
A fearless revolutionary, political strategist, broadcaster and cultural steward, Conradie was a pivotal figure in Namibia’s liberation struggle, particularly during the turbulent years surrounding the 1959 Old Location Uprising.
Born on 7 November 1937 in Windhoek’s Old Location, Conradie grew up under the brutal apartheid regime, an experience that shaped his lifelong resistance to racial injustice.
At just 17, he joined the Damara Executive Committee, launching a public life that would span five decades. He emerged as a central figure in the 1959 protests against the forced removals from the Old Location to Katutura. Refusing to abandon his corrugated iron home, he defiantly told police: “Let them demolish it with me inside.”
It was only his mother Maline !Owoses-Conradie’s pleas that convinced him to leave the house, a gesture made not from fear but deep cultural respect.
The protest, during which 13 residents were killed and dozens wounded, marked a turning point in Namibia’s liberation history.
Active struggle hero
Conradie stood shoulder to shoulder with other luminaries such as Chief Hosea Kutako, Sam Nujoma and Clemens Kapuuo in building a resistance rooted in unity across ethnic lines.
Conradie’s political activism extended local protests. In 1966, he was arrested in Lüderitz and imprisoned for three months for anti-apartheid activities. His underground work included raising funds to support political prisoners, including the legal defence of activist Gerson Veii.
In 1969, he co-founded the Voice of the People (VP) political party, serving first as secretary for foreign affairs and later as president.
Through the 1970s, he became a major force in Namibia’s internal nationalist politics. He played key roles at the National Convention (1970–1972) and the Okahandja Conference in 1974, which led to the formation of the Namibia National Convention.
In 1978, he co-founded the Namibia People’s Liberation Front (NPLF), aiming to unite fractured nationalist groups. He was also a delegate to the 1979 UN-backed Geneva Conference on Namibia and consistently raised Namibia’s plight on global platforms, including the 1976 International Human Rights Convention in Dakar, Senegal.
Voice of the people
After independence, Conradie continued his service. He joined the Federal Convention of Namibia (FCN) and was elected to the First National Assembly in 1993, serving until 1996.
As a member of parliament, he sat on key committees including public accounts, state security, and rules and orders, contributing to the development of Namibia’s democratic institutions. He later led FCN as party president and served as first vice president during its most active political years.
In a political era marked by fragmentation, Conradie was a tireless coalition-builder. He stood for principled, ethical leadership rooted in community, culture and national unity.
Even in his final years, Conradie remained active in civic life, mentoring youth and advocating for land restitution. He passed away in Swakopmund on 8 August 2014.
Now, as Namibia gathers to remember him, the unveiling of his tombstone is not merely a memorial but also a tribute to a man who gave everything to the fight for dignity, justice and unity. His legacy lives on in parliament halls, on football fields and in the hearts of the Namibian people. A roaring legacy, he was a movement, a moment in history.
A fearless revolutionary, political strategist, broadcaster and cultural steward, Conradie was a pivotal figure in Namibia’s liberation struggle, particularly during the turbulent years surrounding the 1959 Old Location Uprising.
Born on 7 November 1937 in Windhoek’s Old Location, Conradie grew up under the brutal apartheid regime, an experience that shaped his lifelong resistance to racial injustice.
At just 17, he joined the Damara Executive Committee, launching a public life that would span five decades. He emerged as a central figure in the 1959 protests against the forced removals from the Old Location to Katutura. Refusing to abandon his corrugated iron home, he defiantly told police: “Let them demolish it with me inside.”
It was only his mother Maline !Owoses-Conradie’s pleas that convinced him to leave the house, a gesture made not from fear but deep cultural respect.
The protest, during which 13 residents were killed and dozens wounded, marked a turning point in Namibia’s liberation history.
Active struggle hero
Conradie stood shoulder to shoulder with other luminaries such as Chief Hosea Kutako, Sam Nujoma and Clemens Kapuuo in building a resistance rooted in unity across ethnic lines.
Conradie’s political activism extended local protests. In 1966, he was arrested in Lüderitz and imprisoned for three months for anti-apartheid activities. His underground work included raising funds to support political prisoners, including the legal defence of activist Gerson Veii.
In 1969, he co-founded the Voice of the People (VP) political party, serving first as secretary for foreign affairs and later as president.
Through the 1970s, he became a major force in Namibia’s internal nationalist politics. He played key roles at the National Convention (1970–1972) and the Okahandja Conference in 1974, which led to the formation of the Namibia National Convention.
In 1978, he co-founded the Namibia People’s Liberation Front (NPLF), aiming to unite fractured nationalist groups. He was also a delegate to the 1979 UN-backed Geneva Conference on Namibia and consistently raised Namibia’s plight on global platforms, including the 1976 International Human Rights Convention in Dakar, Senegal.
Voice of the people
After independence, Conradie continued his service. He joined the Federal Convention of Namibia (FCN) and was elected to the First National Assembly in 1993, serving until 1996.
As a member of parliament, he sat on key committees including public accounts, state security, and rules and orders, contributing to the development of Namibia’s democratic institutions. He later led FCN as party president and served as first vice president during its most active political years.
In a political era marked by fragmentation, Conradie was a tireless coalition-builder. He stood for principled, ethical leadership rooted in community, culture and national unity.
Even in his final years, Conradie remained active in civic life, mentoring youth and advocating for land restitution. He passed away in Swakopmund on 8 August 2014.
Now, as Namibia gathers to remember him, the unveiling of his tombstone is not merely a memorial but also a tribute to a man who gave everything to the fight for dignity, justice and unity. His legacy lives on in parliament halls, on football fields and in the hearts of the Namibian people. A roaring legacy, he was a movement, a moment in history.
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