As corridas de cavalos na colônia alemã do sudoeste africano (1884-1914)

Abstract

During the German colonial rule in South West Africa (now Namibia), several associations were important for the building of a culture of sport. Among these were the Horse Racing Societies (Rennvereine), especially those of Swakopmund, Windhoek, Keetmanshoop and Lüderitzbucht. Horse racing was a main part of the sporting culture of the German Second Reich. In Namibia these sports societies served as training ground for the development of a ”masculine” population (military and civilian) in a colonial context, or in other words, a belligerent context. Based on newspaper archives, this article examines the protagonist role of the Horse Racing Societies in the building of a culture of sport, for the maintenance and spread of “Germanness” and for the structuring of a calendar in which the sporting events were also moments to celebrate colonialism.

Keywords

• horse racings
• colonialism
• Southwest Africa