Music of Namibia

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Namibia is a southern African country. The people of Namibia boast a number of folk styles, as well as pop, rock, reggae, jazz and hip hop. The Sanlam-NBC Music Awards and the Namibia Music Awards are two separate institutions that give out annual awards at shows on December 2 and May 6 respectively [1]. The Namibia Society of Composers and Authors of Music (NASCAM) has helped promote Namibian music within and outside the country, but despite this, the Namibian music industry remains undeveloped, with no major record labels or distribution infrastructure.[2]

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[edit] Folk music

Traditional Namibian dance occurs at most community events, such as weddings. Such dances can be seen at the Caprivi Arts Festival folk music emulated animal sounds, and accompanied storytelling or dancing. The Namaqua use various strings, flutes and drums, while the Bantu added marimba, gourds and horn trumpets.[3] The Owambo people are known for a style called shambo, Tunakie is the most prominent Shambo artist.

The Herero people are known for their traditional form of music called Oviritje, popularly known as Konsert, the music is fast becoming popular. Artists include new commers Okazera (Otjinene in Omaheke), who were the first group to include a San-speaking member in their group (Otjiherero is the primary language of Oviritje music), others include Bullet(yaKaoko), who are based in Opuwo in the Kunene Region. Oviritje was made popular by Tjitjekura, from the Okakarara area(Otjozondjupa), with their hit song "Kaondeka"(A praise song about the Waterberg mountains). Other artists include Tuponda, Wild Dogs(yaHakane), Katja, Millenuim, Kareke and UK based Oviritje queen Kakazona ua Kavari. Another folk music that have gone mainstream in Namibia is Ma/gaisa. Ma/gaisa has given us household names like Stanley, Phura and Ralph & Pele (Marurus di /Gereseb), all three artists are signed to Welwitchia Music Production which is based in Swakopmund. Ma/gaisa is mainly sang in Khoekhoegowab (Nama/Damara), and it is the most popular dance music in Namibia.

[edit] Popular music

Popular styles of music in Namibia include hip hop music, and the South African style of kwaito. Some of the long-standing popular performers include guitarist Ngatu, who has been performing since 1994, Jackson Kaujeua, Black Diamonds. Die Vögel, a Namibian rock and roll band, had success with the German speaking Namibians during the 1970s. Another important figure is Ras Sheehama, one of the founders of Namibia's contemporary music industry. Sheehama has performed in Jamaica, Cuba, UK, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. His album, "Travelling On..."; a compilation of songs from his previous five albums; is now being distributed in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, Russia and Switzerland. The single - "Namibia" - a collaboration with Swiss singer songwriter JAZ, has been popular on world internet radios as well as some European radio stations.

Prominent recent Namibian musicians R&B include singer Jossy Joss, while the field of hip hop has produced Jericho, Faizel MC, cousins Killa B and The Dogg, founder of Mshasho Productions, Bone Chuck, Dollar 6, Qondja and his protege Mapps (Lowkey Records), Kavax, Legg-Ghetto and Gazza, founder of G.M.P.. The Dogg is known for helping to launch the career of his signee Sunny Boy, another of Namibia's most prominent artists, and famous for founding his own genre HiKwa which he describe as a combination of Hip hop and Kwaito, Sunny Boy recently created Green House Entertaiment, and has signed two very promising artists, his protege Chipolpolo and Kamasutra, a multi-talented Ragga artist. Other artists include Tate Buti, who came on the scene with his sister Janice with their own brand of Kwiku music. Tate Buti (Omalaeti Music) also signed P.D.K, a Kwaito group that has proven to be one of the best in Namibian music with their debut album "Skoko".[4].

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