This is despite the fact that in most areas and in Windhoek, the broader lingua franca is Afrikaans while English is now often the sole language used in many other spheres such as government or on public signs and product packaging.

Both institutions worked closely together towards the end of the 18th century, as the Rheinish Missionary Society did not yet have any established facilities in Southern Africa.

Later traders arrived and after the landing of the ship Tilly in Lüderitz Bay in 1883, a rising number of German officials, settlers, workmen and soldiers.

After Southwest Africa was officially declared a German colony in 1884, as well as receiving recognition by England, an increasing number of migrants arrived from Germany.

Migration stagnated after the end of World War I, when Germany lost all sovereignty over its colonies in the Treaty of Versailles.

During the subsequent 'south-africanisation' of Southwest Africa, around half of the remaining 15,000 German residents were deported with their farms being handed over to South Africans.

This so-called 'degermanisation' policy only changed after the London Agreement of 23 October 1923, according to which the remaining Germans were afforded British citizenship.

At this time relations between the South African government and the German population were warming, leading to an increase in migration from Germany being viewed more favourably.

The main road in the capital city, Windhoek, retained the name Kaiserstrasse ("Emperor Street") until Namibian independence in 1990.

[4] Unlike other southern African white groups, emigration to Europe, Australia or North America is not common.