Farewell

I remember my job interview at Namibian Sun in 2019. I sat across from then editor, Festus Nakatana, who fired questions at me so fast and furiously that it felt as though the gates of hell had opened and I was about to become yet another failed applicant vying for the position of Entertainment Journalist at Network Media Hub. Surprisingly, I got the call back.Entertainment, as a beat in the media, has always had to work harder to prove its worth - to peers and critics alike - because it doesn’t command the same respect as other beats such as current affairs, sport or business. Being the Entertainment Journalist for Network Media Hub was an exceptionally demanding task. It hasn’t always been an easy road, but I hope people will remember the love, loyalty, compassion and respect that went into producing issue after issue; keeping the arts and entertainment arm of Network Media Hub, and Namibian Sun in particular, as strong as a Harry Simon punch.My motto at tjil has always been simple: let the work speak for itself. Getting to know the “who’s who” of the industry was as challenging as it was rewarding. Along the way, I met great mentors and teachers — Toivo Ndjebela, Cindy Lee van Wyk, Jana-Mari Smith, Gerine Hoff, Frank Steffen, and of course, former Namibian Sun editor Festus Nakatana. I also met and interviewed some of Namibia’s most prominent public figures, some of whom have since passed on, including Founding Father Sam Nujoma, rapper Kanibal, and legendary reggae artist Ras Sheehama.I have shared meaningful conversations, engaged in colossal debates, encountered people from the most complex to the most complicated, and dealt with both angered readers and those singing our praises. Hopefully, I’ve played my part in Namibia’s music and entertainment story — helping to shine a light on the most talented artists and creatives of our time.It is with deep emotion that I write this - my last issue of tjil. There are no words to express what it feels like to leave behind a publication that has been my life and my second child for six years. I believe in the future of Namibia’s music and entertainment industry, and I trust that Ester Kamati and her team will take tjil to exciting new heights. Her meticulous eye for detail, immaculate writing, strong leadership and creative ideas make me confident enough to close this chapter of my career and hand over the baton to her.For my final column, I chose to write about social consciousness. Self-knowledge remains the most important -and perhaps the most underrated - element of music culture. Namibian music is undergoing a revolution. We are forming new sonic identities, setting trends, capturing new markets, and existing within a digitised global village.The question is: how will we represent ourselves? When everything is stripped away - the lights, glamour, money, cars, endorsements, fans, and foes -what do you stand for? What did you really say, and what kind of impact did you make — in society and within your own journey of self-actualisation? Did you do something that changed the world, or at least made a few people question the status quo?Think about it. You are holding a powerful tool in your hands. You belong to one of the greatest cultures on earth. What will you do with that power?May this question echo in your mind until you see the infinite potential you hold as an art and entertainment enthusiast to change the world.I will miss you.

Farewell

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-03

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Farewell

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Namibian Sun 2025-12-03

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