wˈɪðɚɹˌoʊ bɪɡˈæn hɪz kɚɹˈɪɹ ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti ɪn sˈaʊθ wˈɛst ˈæfɹɪkə, ðə fjˈuːtʃɚ næmˈɪbiə, wˌɛɹ hiː sˈɛt ˌʌp ɐ lˈaɪbɹɛɹi fɔːɹ lˈoʊkəl stˈuːdənts.
Witherow began his career in 1970 in South west Africa, (the future Namibia), where he set up a library for local students.