Exile Stronger than alcohol

Rapper spills the beans on why he walked away from the Kalaharians and why he rejoices in victory today.

The man opened his heart to tjil! and explained why he left the group in 2007. Alcohol addiction seemed to be the biggest problem, but Exile has triumphed. tjil! spent some time with him yesterday to talk about his journey over the past three years, and also to confirm his rejoining the group, as rumoured.

Yes, alcohol abuse was a great problem and he says this was because of him ‘not finding his place on earth’. I know, deep stuff he is talking about here. He went to rehab, got help and in the next three years found himself and his place on earth.

He said that when he moved to Namibia with his parents, after they lived in the States for nine years, he experienced difficulty getting along with others. “I could not relate to people. I felt like I was different. I started defining myself as a living paradox, since I was born in exile and came from exile.

My name is Exile and I felt I was in exile,” said the man who made it clear that he turned to the bottle to numb these feelings. So, how did it happen that he left the group more than three years ago?

On mutual understanding between Exile and the Kalaharians, he left the group to seek help for his addiction, which has caused quite a few conflicts in the group. “I could not see eye to eye with them all, and the booze just made it worse.”

He told tjil! he left the Kalaharians to define himself as a human being and a person. “I had a lot of questions relating to who I am, and needed to find me. “I have learned that I should not digest what the world throws at me, but rather how I look at myself.”

Exile believes his lyrics mean something and speak to people. People also kept on associating him with the Kalaharians. This, he says, eventually drew him back to the group.

“I have won. I have overcome my problem,” says the man who expressed excitement that he finally got his Green Card and finished his qualification in Information and Communication Technology (ITC).

He is aiming for a qualification in telecommunications next. In musical terms Exile is busy with quite a few projects including one with Gal Level and the Kalaharians.

He also discovered new talent that he wants to invest his time in. tjil! cannot help but be proud of the man for firstly being open about his past, and secondly, fighting and overcoming it.

Great stuff! tjil! wishes him all the best with his career. Sula Kyababa from Ogopa Butterfl y Records, confirmed that Exile did indeed rejoin the group about a month ago and that they are happy to have him back.