Axel Wilhelm Eriksson

Axel Wilhelm Eriksson (24 August 1846 – 5 May 1901) was a Swedish ornithologist, settler and trader in what is now Namibia. He was born in Vänersborg, in Sweden.

Axel Wilhelm Eriksson display at Vänersborg museum

Eriksson went to South West Africa in 1866 (before Germany had established its colony of German South West Africa in 1884) to serve out a three-year apprenticeship to Charles John Andersson. In 1871, with Swede Anders Ohlsson, he established a brewery at Omaruru. Eriksson established a trading post there, which flourished and by 1878 employed about forty whites.[1] Eriksson's business was based upon long-distance trading between southern Angola and Cape Colony, which necessitated the establishment of regional trade routes.[2] He also built up an extensive bird collection, specimens coming from South West Africa, Angola and the Transvaal (now Gauteng Province in South Africa), the bulk of which has since been donated to the municipal museum in Vänersborg.[3]

His activities gained much respect from a wide range of communities, including native and Boer, over a large geographic area. He was known to the Herero as Karuwapa Katiti ("the small white person").[3]

Axel Eriksson's grave

Axel Eriksson died on 5 May 1901 at farm Urupupa.[4] It was said that "when Karuwapa died, the goodness in the country died as well". His grave near Rietfontein, thirty kilometres south west of Grootfontein, was made a national monument in 1978; a sign beside the grave reads: "This is the last resting place of Axel Eriksson, well known traveller, hunter, trader and pioneer, through whose intercession the Cape Government sent food to the distressed thirstland trekkers in 1879 thus rescuing various families from certain death".[3] Despite the grave's status, the site is virtually inaccessible and is not maintained, with its boundary fence no longer intact (as at October 2014). However, in 2019 there are attempts to re-establish access to this National Heritage site by Swedish and Namibian government organizations.

Eriksson married Frances "Fanny" Stewardson, in 1871 and the couple had two sons, Axel Eriksson (1871-1924, died at Gaideb, Warmbad), a noted painter[5] and Andrew Albert Eriksson (1876-1955) who became a priest in Sweden. There was also a daughter, Maud Alice Eriksson (who married in Cape Town and moved to England). Eriksson's two brothers, Carl and Gustav also migrated to South West Africa.[6] Eriksson divorced Frances and subsequently married a Herero princess. The couple had a son, Jacob (born around 1884), who became a farmer in what is now Mozambique (his fate is not known).

References
  1. Christison, G. "BEYOND THE PALE: DAMARALAND & OVAMBOLAND" (PDF). Retrieved 19 Nov 2009.
  2. Sellström, Tor (1999). "Sweden and National Liberation in Southern Africa: Volume 1" (PDF). Nordiska Afrikainstitutet, Uppsala. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 August 2010. Retrieved 19 Nov 2009.
  3. "The Trader King of Damaraland Axel Eriksson; A Swedish Pioneer in Southern Africa". Namibiana. 2004. Retrieved 19 Nov 2009.
  4. Dierks, Klaus (January 2005). "Chronology of Namibian History. From Pre-historical Times to Independent Namibia, 1901". klausdierks.com. Retrieved 19 Nov 2009.
  5. "Landscape and Wildlife Artists" (PDF). Archived from the original (pdf) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 19 Nov 2009.
  6. Dierks, Klaus (2003–2004). "BIOGRAPHIES OF NAMIBIAN PERSONALITIES" (pdf). Retrieved 19 Nov 2009.
  • Rudner; Ione & Jalmar (2006). AXEL WILLIAM ERIKSSON OF HEREROLAND (1846-1901): His Life and Letters. NAMIBIA: GAMSBERG MACMILLAN. 9991607463.
  • Johansson, Peter (2007). THE TRADER KING OF DAMARALAND: Axel Eriksson - A Swedish Pioneer in Southern Africa. NAMIBIA: GAMSBERG MACMILLAN. 9789991608518.
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