Nehale lya Mpingana | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Died | April 28, 1908 |
| Occupation | Omukwaniilwa |
| Known for | Omukwaniilwa of Ondonga |
Nehale lya Mpingana (died 28 April 1908[1]) was Omukwaniilwa of Ondonga, a subtribe of the Owambo, in German South West Africa. Their tribal area is situated around Namutoni on the eastern edge of Etosha pan in today's northern Namibia. He reigned over the eastern part of the Ondonga area from 1884 until his death; Kambonde II kaMpingana was chief of the western part.[2]
Under Mpingana's leadership the Ondonga fought and won two wars against intruders into their area. In 1886, Boer settlers on their Dorsland Trek were defeated after they—allegedly fraudulently—acquired land between Otavi and Grootfontein, and declared it to be the Republic of Upingtonia. Mpingana's men shot William Worthington Jordan, the leader of the trek. The group dispersed after the attack, with some settlers moving on towards Angola, and others turning back to the Transvaal.[3]
On 28 January 1904, 500 men under Mpingana attacked Imperial Germany's Schutztruppe at Fort Namutoni in the Battle of Namutoni. The 7 defenders of the fort fled under the cover of the night. Mpingana and his men confiscated horses and cattle[3] and destroyed the outpost.[4] After his death in 1908 he was succeeded by Kambonde III kaNgula.[2]