Ewald namatjira biography of alberta

By Sylvia Kleinert

This article was published in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 15, (MUP), 2000

Albert Namatjira(c.1902-1959), artist, was born on 28 July 1902 at Hermannsburg (Ntaria), Northern Territory, son of Namatjira and his wife Ljukuta.

Ewald namatjira biography of alberta

Elea belonged to the western group of the Arrernte people. In 1905 the family was received into the Lutheran Church: Elea (who was given the name Albert) and his father (who took the name Jonathan) were baptized, and his mother was blessed (as Emilie).

Albert attended the Hermannsburg mission school. In accordance with the practice of the missions, he lived separately from his parents in a boys' dormitory.

Ewald namatjira biography of alberta canada

At 13 he spent six months in the bush and underwent initiation. He left the mission again at the age of 18 and married Ilkalita, a Kukatja woman. Eight of their children were to survive infancy: five sons�Enos, Oscar, Ewald, Keith and Maurice�and three daughters�Maisie, Hazel and Martha.

The family