The Republic of Namibia is a country located in southern Africa. It gained its independence from South Africa in 1990 after decades of struggle against white minority rule. Some synonyms for the name Namibia include the Republic of Namibia, South West Africa, and German South West Africa. These names reflect the country's history, from its colonization by Germany in the late 1800s, to its time as a trust territory of South Africa, and finally to its status as a sovereign state. Other synonyms for Namibia might include its capital city, Windhoek, or the country's various regions and ethnic groups, such as the Himba people of northern Namibia.