A republic in southern Africa, south of ANGOLA and west of BOTSWANA. Its capital is Windhoek. It was a region not much visited before the middle of the 19th century although the Portuguese landed at one of its harbors in 1486. Namibia was annexed by Germany in 1885. As the former German colony of South West Africa, it was mandated to South Africa 1920-1966, and made a direct dependent of the United Nations 1966. Its name was changed from South West Africa to Namibia in 1968. The name is from Nama, the Hottentot people who inhabit it; its origin is unknown. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p1144 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p369).