As corridas de cavalos na colônia alemã do sudoeste africano (1884-1914)

Abstract

Para a formação do campo desportivo na colônia alemã do sudoeste africano (atual Namíbia) tiveram papel importante várias associações desportivas. Entre elas, podese mencionar as sociedades de corrida de cavalos (Rennvereine), especialmente as de Swakopmund, Windhoek, Keetmanshoop e da Baía de Lüderitz. As corridas de cavalos constituíram parte da cultura desportiva na Alemanha do Segundo Império. Essas sociedades desportivas serviram para o treinamento da população masculina (militar e civil) num contexto colonial, ou seja, num contexto beligerante. Com base em jornais, o presente artigo examina o protagonismo das sociedades de corridas de cavalos para a formação do campo desportivo, para a manutenção e expansão do germanismo e para a estruturação de um calendário desportivo no qual os eventos desportivos eram momentos de celebração do colonialismo.

During the German colonial rule in South West Africa (now Namibia), several associations were important for the building of a culture of sport. Among these were the Horse Racing Societies (Rennvereine), especially those of Swakopmund, Windhoek, Keetmanshoop and Lüderitzbucht. Horse racing was a main part of the sporting culture of the German Second Reich. In Namibia these sports societies served as training ground for the development of a ”masculine” population (military and civilian) in a colonial context, or in other words, a belligerent context. Based on newspaper archives, this article examines the protagonist role of the Horse Racing Societies in the building of a culture of sport, for the maintenance and spread of “Germanness” and for the structuring of a calendar in which the sporting events were also moments to celebrate colonialism.