List of Namibians
This is a list of Namibians who are famous.
Artists
Visual artists
- Dieter Aschenborn, wildlife painter and designer of postal stamps
- Hans Aschenborn, wildlife painter and illustrator
- Uli Aschenborn, wildlife painter and sculptor
- Margaret Courtney-Clarke, documentary photographer
- Koos van Ellinckhuijzen, painter, designer of postal stamps and graphic designer
- Tony Figueira, photographer
- Joel Haikali, film director
- Oshosheni Hiveluah, film director and writer
- Tim Huebschle, film director and screenwriter
- Adolph Jentsch, painter
- Perivi Katjavivi, film director
- Helga Kohl, photographer
- Nicky Marais, painter
- Cecil Moller, film director
- Kerry McNamara, architect
- John Muafangejo, woodcutter and linocutter
- Richard Pakleppa, film director and screenwriter
- Bridget Pickering, film producer
- Wilhelm Sander, architect
- Max Siedentopf, artist
Literary artists
- Joseph Diescho, novelist
- Dorian Haarhoff, poet
- Mvula ya Nangolo, journalist and poet
- Sylvia Schlettwein, literary critic and short story author
- Christi Warner, performance poet, playwright
Performing artists
- Nǃxau ǂToma, bush farmer and actor
- Atushe, Kizomba singer
- Beate Baumgartner, pop singer
- Sally Boss Madam, musician, songwriter
- D-Naff, rapper
- The Dogg, musician, songwriter
- EES, rapper
- Exit, musician
- Gal Level, musician
- Gazza, musician, songwriter
- Jericho, rapper
- Big Ben Kandukira, guitarist
- Jackson Kaujeua, singer
- Stefan Ludik, musician
- Lady May, musician, dancer
- Riana Nel, singer-songwriter
- Nianell, musician
- Franja du Plessis, pop singer, actress
- Juanita du Plessis, country singer
- Quido, rapper
- Ras Sheehama, singer
- Stella, pop singer
- Sunny Boy, rapper, lyricist, songwriter
- TeQuila, singer
- Top Cheri, singer
- Tre Van Die Kasie, kwaito singer
- Shishani Vranckx, singer
- Christi Warner, singer, television presenter
Businesspeople
- Tom Alweendo, Head of the National Planning Commission
- Tangeni Amupadhi, editor of The Namibian
- Johnny Doeseb, owner of Eleven Arrows F.C. in Walvis Bay
- Johannes ǃGawaxab, governor of the Bank of Namibia
- Monica Geingos, First Lady and owner of Stimulus Investments and many other companies
- Benjamin Hauwanga, owner of the BH Group of companies
- Frans Indongo, owner of Indongo Toyota, continental properties.
- Gert Joubert, owner of Erindi Game Reserve
- Robert Kahimise, CEO of the City of Windhoek
- Gwen Lister, journalist, founder of The Namibian
- Aaron Mushimba, mining magnate
- Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun, African Business Leader of the Year, 2013
- Harold Pupkewitz, owner of Pupkewitz Toyota, Megabuild, and many other companies
- Iipumbu Shiimi, minister of finance, former governor of the Bank of Namibia
- Sven Thieme, chairman of Ohlthaver & List
- Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi, managing director of diamond conglomerate Namdeb
Clergy
- Leonard Auala, Christian bishop of Evangelical-Lutheran Ovambo-Kavango Church
- Shekutaamba Nambala, presiding bishop of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Namibia
- Joseph Gotthardt, prefect of the Prefecture Apostolic of Cimbebasia, later bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Windhoek
- Paulus Hamutenya, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
- Bonifatius Haushiku, archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Windhoek
- Obadja Iihuhua, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
- Sakeus Iihuhua, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
- Gideon Iitula, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
- Zephania Kameeta, former bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia
- James Kauluma, sixth bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Namibia
- Nabot Manasse, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
- Leevi Gerson Max, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1965
- Ngeno Nakamhela, former secretary-general of the Council of Churches in Namibia
- Juuso Ngaikukwete, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
- Matias Shikondomboro, pastor in Okavango, ordained 1942
- Simson Shituwa, pastor in Ovamboland, ordained 1925
Military leaders
Colonial period
- Kaipkire, female Herero warrior
- Jacob Morenga, guerrilla fighter, national hero
People's Liberation Army of Namibia personnel
- Tobias Hainyeko, commander of the South West Africa Liberation Army, predecessor of PLAN, 1962–1967
- Lieutenant General Dimo Hamaambo, commander of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia 1967–1990 and chief of the Namibian Defence Force 1990–2000
Namibian Defence Force personnel
- Major General Matheus Alueendo, Namibian Army commander since 2019
- Rear Admiral Alweendo Amungulu,, Namibian Navy commander since 2020
- Lieutenant General Solomon Huwala, chief of the NDF 2000–2006
- Lieutenant General John Mutwa, chief of the NDF 2013–2020
- Major General Peter Nambundunga, Namibian Army commander 2005–2011
- Major General Charles Namoloh, NDF Chief of Staff
- Lieutenant General Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, chief of the NDF 2011–2013
- Air Marshal Martin Pinehas, chief of the NDF since 2020
- Air Vice Marshall Teofilus Shaende, Namibian Air Force commander since 2020
- Lieutenant General Martin Shalli, chief of the NDF 2006–2011
Politicians
Presidents and leaders of government
- Sam Nujoma, first president of Namibia
- Hifikepunye Pohamba, second president
- Hage Geingob, first prime minister of Namibia and third president
- Nangolo Mbumba, second vice-president and fourth president
- Nickey Iyambo, first vice-president of Namibia
- Theo-Ben Gurirab, second prime minister of Namibia
- Nahas Angula, third prime minister
- Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, fourth prime minister
- Hendrik Witbooi (politician), first deputy-prime minister of Namibia
- Libertina Amathila, second deputy-prime minister
- Marco Hausiku, third deputy-prime minister
- Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, fourth deputy-prime minister
Diplomats
- Eddie Amkongo, former ambassador to Ethiopia
- Martin Andjaba, ambassador to Germany
- Bience Gawanas, African Union Labour Affairs Commissioner
- Neville Gertze, ambassador to the United Nations
- Julia Imene-Chanduru, ambassador to the United Nations
- Kaire Mbuende, former ambassador to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg
- Margaret Mensah-Williams, ambassador to the United States
- Monica Nashandi, former ambassador to the United States
- Hanno Rumpf, former ambassador to the Benelux countries, Switzerland and the European Union
- Nora Schimming-Chase, former ambassador to Germany and Austria
SWAPO politicians
- Ben Amathila, cabinet member
- Clara Bohitile, deputy minister, central committee member
- Dawid Boois, former governor of ǁKaras
- Bernard Esau, trade unionist, independence activist
- Ida Jimmy, national hero, independence activist, central committee member
- Ella Kamanya, Pan-African parliamentarian and National Assembly member
- Asser Kuveri Kapere, chairman of the National Council of Namibia
- Marten Kapewasha, diplomat
- Samuel Mbambo, central committee member
- Steve Mogotsi, National Council member
- Alpheus ǃNaruseb, cabinet member
- Immanuel Ngatjizeko, cabinet member
- Erkki Nghimtina, cabinet member
- Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, lawyer and cabinet member
- Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, former minister, independence leader
- Piet van der Walt, deputy minister
- Peya Mushelenga, member of parliament
Opposition politicians
- Kenneth Abrahams, medical doctor
- Ottilie Abrahams, activist, teacher and educator
- Apius Auchab
- Steve Bezuidenhout
- Moses Katjiuongua
- Katuutire Kaura,
- Fanuel Kozonguizi,, first national ombudsman
- Dirk Mudge, pre-independence leader of government
- Jeremia Nambinga,
- Ben Ulenga
Traditional leaders
- Justus ǁGaroëb, Damara chief and politician
- Hosea Kutako, liberation fighter and Herero chief, national hero
- Samuel Maharero, Herero chief, national hero
- Daniel Sitentu Mpasi, king of the Kwangali
- Nehale Mpingana, king of Ondonga, national hero
- Mandume ya Ndemufayo, king of the Kwanyama, national hero
- Martha Nelumbu, queen of the Kwanyama
- Kahimemua Nguvauva, chief of the Ovambanderu, national hero
- Iipumbu Ya Tshilongo, king of the Uukwambi, national hero
- Hendrik Witbooi, chief of the ǀKhowesin, national hero
Activists
- Job Amupanda, youth activist who started the Affirmative Repositioning movement
- Niko Bessinger, independence activist and politician
- Pauline Dempers, human rights activist, coordinator of the Breaking the Wall of Silence movement
- Kalla Gertze, former president of the Breaking the Wall of Silence movement and CoD politician
- Alfredo Tjiurimo Hengari, political columnist
- Evilastus Kaaronda, trade unionist
- George Kambala, youth activist
- Veronica de Klerk, women's rights activist
- John Kwedhi, trade unionist
- Blythe Loutit, founder of Save the Rhino Trust
- Anna Mungunda, anti-apartheid activists, national hero
- Rosa Namises, politician and women's rights activist, former member of parliament
- Phil ya Nangoloh, human rights activist
- Dimbulukeni Nauyoma, youth activist
- John Pandeni, former trade unionist and member of cabinet
- Immanuel Shifidi, guerrilla fighter
- Emma Tuahepa, HIV/AIDS activist
Scientists
- Roman Grynberg, professor of economics, University of Namibia
- Nico Horn, theologian and professor of human rights and constitutional law, UNAM
- André du Pisani, professor of political science at UNAM
- Gabi Schneider, geologist
- Tjama Tjivikua, founding rector of the Polytechnic of Namibia
Sportspeople
- Gaby Ahrens, Olympic trap shooter
- Collin Benjamin, footballer
- Johanna Benson, Paralympic athlete and medalist
- Jacques Burger, rugby union player
- Dan Craven, cyclist
- Merlin Diamond, sprinter, national champion
- Trevor Dodds, golfer
- Frankie Fredericks, Olympic athlete and medalist
- Prince ǃGaoseb, rugby union player for the Tel Aviv Heat
- Mannie Heymans, cyclist
- Max Katjijeko, rugby union player for the Tel Aviv Heat
- Kees Lensing, rugby union prop
- Ricardo Mannetti, footballer and national football coach
- Beatrice Masilingi, Olympic athlete, U20 world champion
- Athiel Mbaha, deaf footballer
- Christine Mboma, Olympic athlete
- Ali Nuumbembe, welterweight boxer
- Ryan Nyambe, footballer
- Harry Simon, boxer
- Razundara Tjikuzu, footballer
- Gerhard Erasmus, cricketer
Other
- Christina Van-Dunem Da Fonsech, police officer
- Michelle McLean, former Miss Universe, charity activist
- Behati Prinsloo, model
- Robbie Savage, football fan and socialite
- Hulda Shipanga, matron