Blossom in firing line

The Namibia Music Awards executive committee has banned musician Blossom for 12 months because of tribal remarks she had made on social media, which were apparently directed at President Hage Geingob.

The comments were posted on 19 October this year on her private Facebook page.

Blossom, whose real name is Ruusa Munalye, at the weekend refused to comment.

Last week Blossom also lost out on a Bank Windhoek gig where she was due to perform at their fun day.

“Save to say the ban is conditional on the bid that Blossom extends a public apology. Any inaction on Blossom's part of no apology being forthcoming will leave no option but for the executive committee of the NAMAs to extend the ban with another year (sic),” the statement read.

According to NAMAs executive chairperson Umbi Karuaihe-Upi, the awards are a platform that unites all Namibians with the universal language of music, and artists must always strive to serve as role models.

“The NAMAs represent the aspirations of growing nation of Namibia's abundant raw talent and showcase of our diverse cultures all morphed in the musical realm.

“As a nation of diversity, tolerance and harmonious co-existence is the cornerstone of any society and the NAMAs adhere strictly to this ethos,” she said.

“A strong warning needs to be send to all artists that if they wish to associate themselves with the NAMAs, they have a responsibility to behave and completely desist from making tribal, racial remarks or act in a manner that is unbecoming and undignified to the ideals of nation building, because music is about unity.”

JUNE SHIMOUSHILI