Vernacular law and the future of human rights in Namibia

dc.contributor.author	Gordon, Robert J
dc.date.accessioned	2026-02-11T07:00:17Z
dc.date.available	2026-02-11T07:00:17Z
dc.date.issued	1991
dc.identifier.uri	https://digital.unam.edu.na/xmlui/handle/11070.1/21807
dc.description	This paper explores the historical, political, and legal significance of the contested narrative surrounding Chief Mandume ya Ndemufayo’s death and the enduring belief in his decapitation. Using this episode as a point of departure, the study examines broader questions about the legitimacy of Namibia’s legal system, the role of indigenous or customary law, and the complexities surrounding its potential codification in the post‑independence era. It discusses how colonial manipulation of “customary law,” the crisis of the Roman‑Dutch legal system, and shifting perceptions of traditional authority shape ongoing debates about democracy, human rights, and the future of legal pluralism in Namibia.	en_US
dc.language.iso	en	en_US
dc.publisher	University of Namibia	en_US
dc.subject	Chief Mandume ya Ndemufayo	en_US
dc.subject	Indigenous law in Namibia	en_US
dc.subject	Roman Dutch law in Namibia	en_US
dc.subject	Ovambo history	en_US
dc.subject	Judiciary reform in Namibia	en_US
dc.title	Vernacular law and the future of human rights in Namibia	en_US
dc.type	Working Paper	en_US

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