The Lost May Day: Namibian Workers Struggle for Independence

The Lost May Day: Namibian Workers Struggle for Independence

"Why did Namibian trade unions lose a large part of their newly gained popularity after independence in 1990? The first May Day celebrations barely six weeks after independence was a flop. In Namibia, the colonial period did not create a large working class living solely on wages. The civil society is still in its infancy. After independence, ethnic considerations have gained new importance, because political leaders need constituencies. This has created conflict between ethnic groups and the government, which is pursuing a nationalistic policy. Trying to understand these developments, this study discusses class, race, ethnicity, and nationalism in their Namibian and African context. Political aspects of ethnicity and a situationality of identities have shown their relevancy to the problems of this study. Based on interviews and the author's actual participation in the process, this study throws a fascinating light in the birth of a nation."

Pekka Peltola

Finnish Anthropological Society

1995

© Pekka Peltola, 1995

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