Jackson Kaujeua

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Jackson Kaujeua (1953-, full name Jackson Muningandu Kaujeua[citation needed]) is a Namibian musician, composer and gospel singer. Possibly the most famous musician in his country, he sings in various Namibian languages and English.

He was born a member of the Herero ethnic group[1] in !Huns, a village near Keetmanshoop. Later, he broke off an education as a priest at the mission school of Otjimbingwe after he came in touch with the songs of gospels singers like Mahalia Jackson, whose human rights-related lyrics inspired him.[2]

In 1973 he started studying music at the 'Dorkay Art & Music college for talented Non-Whites' in South Africa. However, he was soon expulsed from the country for anti-apartheid activism. After a short time in Botswana, the SWAPO-resistance movement (with which he still associates himself today[3][4]) helped him to move to Great Britain, where he soon became the lead singer of the group Black Diamond. International success followed with songs like Winds of Change.[2]

Having lived as a teacher in an Angolan refugee camp for a short time in 1979, he returned to Namibia only after independence in 1990, where he celebrated great successes with his music, especially with !Gnubu !Nubus (Damara: 'short and round').[2] He is still one of the best-known Namibian musicians today.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Namibian Music: Jackson Kaujeua’s musical journey on stage - Street News Service, Monday 02 October 2006
  2. ^ a b c See German version of this article at Jackson Kaujeua (German). Some references not yet available in English.
  3. ^ Gibeon offers a foretaste of campaigning 2004 - The Namibian, Monday 18 October 2004
  4. ^ National Heroes (from the Centre for Intercultural Learning, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Canada)
  5. ^ Jackson Goes Globe Trotting - The Namibian, Friday 02 October 1998
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