How did the spanspek (cantaloupe melon) and Murder Hill (a granite outcrop near Okahandja) get their names? What did a train steward have to do with the high number of deaths in the POW camp at Aus? And where is the grave of famous explorer and trader Charles Andersson? The answer to these and other questions from Namibia’s past are provided in an entertaining way in the book Gondwana History I which becomes available this week.
The 25 stories, in random order, are self-contained and illustrate various facets of Namibia’s rich history, culture and natural environment on 100 pages. The book also contains many pictures. It is the first volume in a series of anthologies. The target group are tourists as well as Namibians who want to know more about their country.
Gondwana Collection (Publ.): Gondwana History I, Windhoek 2011, ISBN 978-99945-72-12-0 (English), 978-99945-72-13-7 (Afrikaans), 978-99945-72-11-3 (German).