Traders and Trade in Colonial Ovamboland, 1925-1990. Elite Formation and the Politics of Consumption Under Indirect Rule and Apartheid

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Focusing on the evolution of trade in northern Namibia during the twentieth century, the book explores the transition from a self-reliant society to a globalized economy. It highlights the role of local traders, who emerged as a new social elite in the 1950s and 1960s, providing black Namibians with opportunities for income and status. While these traders significantly contributed to urban consumerism, their reliance on the colonial reserve economy has led to challenges post-1990, affecting their legacy and the region's socio-economic structures amidst ongoing inequalities.