Option Daril infuses Namibia’s Afropop scene with new flavours

In a local music industry often defined by genre boundaries and stylistic expectations, Option Daril is carving his own lane – blending Afropop, dancehall and reggae into an infectious fusion that feels at once local and globally resonant.

With his latest single ‘Dance For Me’ garnering widespread attention, the artist is proving that Namibian audiences are more than ready for a new sonic experience.

His journey began in the most modest of places – art classes in a primary school classroom.

“I used to memorise other artists’ songs and perform them during class,” he recalled. That youthful mimicry eventually evolved into dancing in high school, then DJing during his early university years at the University of Namibia (Unam).

But the defining shift came during his third year, when a friend and fellow creative, Sixxa, handed him a beat and invited him to contribute a verse.

The chemistry was immediate. Together they formed a short-lived group called Rough Kings.

“We eventually went our separate ways,” Daril says, “and from there, I started pushing Option Daril as a solo artist.”

As a solo act, Option Daril gravitated towards Afropop but remained unbound by genre lines. “I can also do dancehall and reggae,” he said.

“These genres are related and allow me to express different energies.” Unlike many artists who draw heavily from personal experience, Daril’s songwriting is rooted in observation. “I study what’s happening in the nation and sing about that – love, heartbreak, happiness,” he explained. “My music is for the people, about the people.”

Big flavours

That community-minded approach is evident in ‘Dance For Me’, his latest single, which is a high-energy collaboration with King Elegant and Don Kamati that has lit up local airwaves and streaming platforms.

Daril explained that the concept stemmed from a desire to elevate the dancehall sound in Namibia – a genre he feels is often overlooked. “I asked myself, who are the guys doing this sound here? King Elegant, Don Kamati and Blank Nangaku came to mind. I thought, let me bring some of them together and see what we can create.”

Each artist recorded their contribution separately due to scheduling challenges. Nevertheless, according to Daril, the final product brims with “energy and positive vibes”.

The track is less about storytelling and more about movement – a deliberate effort to make people dance. “It doesn’t have a deep message,” he admits. “It’s about good vibes; that’s it. And people are loving it – they say it’s different, it’s fresh. It seems like they want more of this flavour in Namibia.”

While the single has raised his profile, Option Daril is not rushing into a full-length album just yet. “An EP might be on the horizon,” he said. “But for now, I’m focused on releasing strong singles with visuals and collaborating with other talented artists.”