Before the Apartheid era
In 1870, Onandjokwe, near Ondangwa, was the site of the first Christian (Finnish Lutheran) mission in Ovamboland was set up by Finnish Lutherans.
During Apartheid
During the Namibian War of Independence, Ondangwa was a major theatre of fighting between the rebel movement South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) and the South African Defence Force (SADF)
