Natives with clock, Swakopmund, south west Africa
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Natives with clock, Swakopmund, south west Africa
Natives with New Year clock and mud huts in the background, Swakopmund, German south west Africa (now Namibia). Date: circa 1910
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Media ID 14231642
© Mary Evans / Pharcide
Clock Colonialism Huts Namibia Natives Prewar Swakopmund Year
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures a moment in time during the early 20th century in Swakopmund, German South-West Africa (now Namibia). In the foreground, a Native family gathers around a new clock, a symbol of the approaching New Year. The father, dressed in traditional clothing, holds the clock aloft, while his wife and children look on with curiosity and excitement. The mud huts in the background, typical of the local Herero and Damara people, provide a stark contrast to the modern timepiece. The image offers a glimpse into the intersection of cultures during the colonial era, as European influence began to spread across the African continent. The clock, a gift or a purchase from European traders or settlers, represents the encroachment of Western civilization into indigenous communities. Yet, the family's traditional attire and the presence of their mud huts suggest that they have not yet fully embraced these new ways. This photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the complex and often tumultuous history of colonialism in Africa. It invites us to reflect on the ways in which different cultures interacted, adapted, and sometimes clashed during this period. The image also underscores the importance of preserving historical records that document the experiences of Native peoples during this time, as they continue to shape the contemporary narrative of African history.
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