Lioness bares her soul in powerful tour documentary
‘If Not in This Life’ intersects passion and purpose
Ester Kamati
WINDHOEK
The ‘If Not in This Life’ documentary, which premiered on Tuesday, follows multi-talented artist Lioness on her very first national music tour, launched on 24 May, to promote her October 2024 album of the same name.
The 35-minute documentary captures Lioness’s tour across four towns in Namibia, showcasing on-stage brilliance and behind-the-scenes sacrifice and soul.
The documentary offers a vulnerable look into Lioness’s life, from studying on the tour bus to choreographing performances and tender moments at home with her daughter. She shows us what it means to go from centre stage to bedtime stories and scrubs, switching seamlessly.
“I separate those two completely,” Lioness says, referring to her public and private personas.
Behind the scenes
The documentary also takes viewers inside the making of the album, showcasing the creative process alongside candid interviews from her team.
Music producer Preezy, who has worked with Lioness since 2018, reflects on the evolution of their collaboration, recalling how a project she originally envisioned as an EP blossomed into a full, genre-defying album.
“It was never rushed,” he said, adding that the diversity of the songs pulls people in. “She’s a hip-hop artist, but she doesn’t confine herself to hip-hop beats.”
One of Lioness’s own favourite tracks is ‘Omapiyano’, featuring iconic Namibian artist Gazza. “I’ve always wanted to work with artists I looked up to,” she revealed, saying for her the track felt like a full-circle moment.
Intentionality is another thread woven through her work.
“With motherhood, I wanted to include music my daughter can innocently listen to, without compromising my identity as an artist.”
Coming full circle From packed-out venues to long hours of rehearsals, Lioness gave her all on the ‘If Not in This Life’ tour.
“I wish I could’ve done more towns,” she reflected, clearly moved by the outpouring of love from fans across the country.
“At first, I just wanted people to appreciate that there’s talent in Namibia. Then it shifted. I wanted to be known for my talent. Now, it’s about making a permanent statement in the Namibian music industry.”
Megan Pritchard, CEO of Ogilvy Namibia, emceed the launch and summed it up best: “You don’t just sing, you command. You’ve shown us what happens when talent meets discipline, drive and heart.”
Lioness’s success is as much a tribute to her relentless spirit as it is to her team. Personal assistant and dancer Michael Namaseb, who also produced the documentary, describes her as “humble, kind and generous”, with a work ethic rivalled only by the likes of Beyoncé. “She inspires me to come out of my creative shell,” he noted.
The film also captures the voices of Lioness’s tight-knit team, their admiration, their exhaustion, and above all, their shared belief in something bigger than themselves.
“I want this to be my contribution to Namibian music,” Lioness said, adding that when people look back at the “top 50 greatest Namibians of all time”, she will certainly have earned her spot. “There were greats before me. There will be greats after me. But I’m focused on my personal contribution,” she said.
WINDHOEK
The ‘If Not in This Life’ documentary, which premiered on Tuesday, follows multi-talented artist Lioness on her very first national music tour, launched on 24 May, to promote her October 2024 album of the same name.
The 35-minute documentary captures Lioness’s tour across four towns in Namibia, showcasing on-stage brilliance and behind-the-scenes sacrifice and soul.
The documentary offers a vulnerable look into Lioness’s life, from studying on the tour bus to choreographing performances and tender moments at home with her daughter. She shows us what it means to go from centre stage to bedtime stories and scrubs, switching seamlessly.
“I separate those two completely,” Lioness says, referring to her public and private personas.
Behind the scenes
The documentary also takes viewers inside the making of the album, showcasing the creative process alongside candid interviews from her team.
Music producer Preezy, who has worked with Lioness since 2018, reflects on the evolution of their collaboration, recalling how a project she originally envisioned as an EP blossomed into a full, genre-defying album.
“It was never rushed,” he said, adding that the diversity of the songs pulls people in. “She’s a hip-hop artist, but she doesn’t confine herself to hip-hop beats.”
One of Lioness’s own favourite tracks is ‘Omapiyano’, featuring iconic Namibian artist Gazza. “I’ve always wanted to work with artists I looked up to,” she revealed, saying for her the track felt like a full-circle moment.
Intentionality is another thread woven through her work.
“With motherhood, I wanted to include music my daughter can innocently listen to, without compromising my identity as an artist.”
Coming full circle From packed-out venues to long hours of rehearsals, Lioness gave her all on the ‘If Not in This Life’ tour.
“I wish I could’ve done more towns,” she reflected, clearly moved by the outpouring of love from fans across the country.
“At first, I just wanted people to appreciate that there’s talent in Namibia. Then it shifted. I wanted to be known for my talent. Now, it’s about making a permanent statement in the Namibian music industry.”
Megan Pritchard, CEO of Ogilvy Namibia, emceed the launch and summed it up best: “You don’t just sing, you command. You’ve shown us what happens when talent meets discipline, drive and heart.”
Lioness’s success is as much a tribute to her relentless spirit as it is to her team. Personal assistant and dancer Michael Namaseb, who also produced the documentary, describes her as “humble, kind and generous”, with a work ethic rivalled only by the likes of Beyoncé. “She inspires me to come out of my creative shell,” he noted.
The film also captures the voices of Lioness’s tight-knit team, their admiration, their exhaustion, and above all, their shared belief in something bigger than themselves.
“I want this to be my contribution to Namibian music,” Lioness said, adding that when people look back at the “top 50 greatest Namibians of all time”, she will certainly have earned her spot. “There were greats before me. There will be greats after me. But I’m focused on my personal contribution,” she said.
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