Rest in Peace, Jane Katjavivi

1 September 1952 – 9 August 2022

Many friends of Namibia are mourning the passing of Jane Katjavivi, solidarity activist, publisher and writer, who made a huge contribution to independent Namibia. Jane was a pillar of support for her husband Peter Katjavivi and the Katjavivi extended family as well as her many dear friends. She was travelling home from Heathrow with Peter when she passed away suddenly on the flight.

Tributes to her have been pouring in from so many Namibians and others worldwide: politicians, writers, publishers and friends. According to President HE Hage Geingob “…she became one of us in advancing our fight for freedom and independence. After independence in 1990, as an accomplished author and passionate editor, Jane was instrumental in building Namibian literature and assisted many with editing manuscripts and documents.”

Jane Coles was born in Leeds, studied English Literature at the University of Sussex and studied for an MA in African Politics at the University of Birmingham. She joined the World University Service (UK) in 1975 as a Scholarship Officer.

She met Peter Katjavivi in 1975 and went on to work with him as Information Officer for SWAPO in London (1976-78), also attending meetings, pickets and demos of the Namibia Support Committee. Many UK-based former campaigners for Namibian independence will remember her fondly as a personal friend and fellow activist.

After a stint as editorial assistant at AFRICA Magazine, Jane moved in 1980 with Peter to Oxford, where she joined a book publisher and he completed a doctorate. They married in 1981 and their son Perivi was born in 1984, while their daughter Isabel was born in 1988 in the USA, where Peter had taken up a fellowship at Yale University. The family moved fully to Namibia in March 1990, just a few weeks before Independence.

Once in Windhoek, Jane set up publishing house New Namibia Books (NNB). “The worst desert in Namibia is the book desert,” she told friends and family. And she did not accept what she was told – that “Namibians don’t read”.

Over 10 years NNB published 63 books encompassing Namibian history, anthologies, fiction, poetry, life stories, democracy and gender. There were children’s books and science textbooks too. She opened a bookshop, later named Onganda y’Omambo, specializing in books about Namibia and Africa. She also set up a Namibian imprint, Tigereye Publishing, and was founding publisher of the University of Namibia Press from 2011 to 2016, establishing it as a leading academic publisher. She was also a proactive leader in publishing organisations including the Association of Namibian Publishers and the African Publishers Network.

Her memoir Undisciplined Heart was published by Modjaji Books in 2010. It charts her life, her sustaining close friendships, her health struggles which meant she was fitted with a heart pacemaker, her long road to recovery, and finding a renewed understanding of the Christian faith and spirituality. Writer Margie Orford commented: “Jane Katjavivi’s frank and intimate memoir of love and politics, of survival and finding way to make a home, shows that history is also what heals when it is filtered through a loving heart and an open mind.”

An important part of Jane’s life was bringing up the family and supporting relatives. She was uprooted several times, moving home from the UK to the USA, Namibia, Brussels and Berlin as she supported Peter, whose varied posts after independence included those of founding Vice-Chancellor of the University of Namibia, Namibian ambassador to the EU and then Germany – which meant long periods away from Namibia for Jane – and most recently Speaker of the National Assembly.

Jane’s memorial service was held on Thursday18 August at Parliament Gardens and later St George’s Cathedral, and her burial service is on Saturday 20 August at St George’s Cathedral (from 09h00) and Pioneerspark Cemetery.

Friends of Namibia sends sincere condolences to Hon. Peter Katjavivi, Perivi, Isabel and all the family and friends as they mourn Jane.
  
Many tribute articles and obituaries are already published, including by friend Werner Hillebrecht in The Namibian, 14 August, from which much of this information is drawn: https://namibian.com.na/115124/read/An-undisciplined-heart–with-a-great-legacy

Undisciplined Heart is available from the African Books Collective at https://www.africanbookscollective.com/books/undisciplined-heart.
 
Obituary by Tom Minney, with additional thanks to Jo Morris and Marion Wallace.

Friends of Namibia AGM will be on 16 January 2021

All are welcome to the Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Namibia. This is where our member organizations, including charities, churches, schools, civic links and individuals, get together to share their progress and successes over the year and to discuss plans for the coming year.

You also get a chance to elect a new Chair and Executive Committee (or re-elect the wonderful current Chair, Secretary and Treasurer) and suggest activities.

All are welcome, please confirm if you are coming through our Facebook page or send an email to info@friendsofnamibia.org.uk.

HOME


Who are we?
The Friends of Namibia Society was launched in November 1997 and brings together people who share interest in Namibia. We include charities, churches, academics, volunteers, exchange visitors, tourists, business people and those with an interest in the country’s natural beauties and animal life as well as former anti-apartheid campaigners who supported Namibia’s liberation struggle.

FoN’s main role is a forum and co-ordinating body for groups in UK who have a particular link with Namibia, including the civic link between Chesterfield and Tsumeb, the school link with the American Community School in Surrey, the diocesan link with Manchester and other parish links, as well as charities such as Catherine Bullen Foundation.

We are independent of any government or political party and we seek to cooperate and liaise with both individuals and organizations who have an interest in the welfare and future of Namibia.

Who can join?
The Society is open to anyone – and we particularly welcome younger members. So if you have an interest in Namibia, are doing research, have visited there recently, or plan to do so in the future, or would just like to learn more about the country, we would like to hear from you. We would particularly like to hear of any specific projects, activities or links with Namibia. Please contact us at: info@friendsofnamibia.org.uk.

What is our purpose?
The aims and purposes of the Society (per our Constitution) are “to increase mutual knowledge, understanding and respect between citizens of the Republic of Namibia and the citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and to promote good relations” through: 
• Providing or recommending speakers or writers in the UK on subjects concerning Namibia
• Welcoming visitors from the Republic of Namibia, arranging interviews and providing contacts and other facilities
• Facilitating contacts with students from the Republic of Namibia studying in the UK
• Encouraging or promoting group visits from the Republic of Namibia
• Undertaking such other activities, including cultural events, for the purpose of promoting the aims and purposes of the Society.


How are we organized
An Annual General Meeting is held each year for members, usually in January, at which the officers of the society are elected: a Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and up to 10 other members – all of whom then compose the Executive Committee for the year. The committee meets quarterly and takes ongoing decisions concerning the activities of the Society.

What do we do?
In the past few years we have organised meetings in London and Manchester, and some social events. We have organized showings for films from Namibia and supported a touring dance company. We also publicize and support Namibia related events such as book launches, conferences, films and other events.

Are you interested in joining, finding out more, or telling us about your own experience of or involvement with Namibia? If so, please e-mail us on: info@friendsofnamibia.org.uk.