Book and street smart

The education sector has the strikingly well-dressed teacher in formal wear who touches lives. There's the likeable corporate entrepreneur who handles business during the week and but pops bottles like crazy on weekends and sweats it out on the dance floor until the sun rises. And then of course there is the entertainer. Among the most damaging in the entertainment space is the stereotype of the high school or university drop-out who is uneducated. Disclaimer: It is not always the case. Not all entertainers are school dropouts. There are a handful of them who have reputable university degrees to their names.Media personality Ilke Platt, rappers Lioness and Fire16 and house artist DJ Glob of the award-wining House duo Makurunganga, are some of the entertainers who graduated this year. Platt obtained a Master's degree in media studies. She told tjil that balancing school and show business is tricky, however she has the drive to succeed at both. “I have always multitasked, it keeps me busy. Success is the contentment with your own achievements in your own time.“I was supposed to graduate last year with the rest of my classmates, however due to circumstances I could not. But as I always say, I run my own race in my own time and in God's time alone. All things are possible,” added Platt. What's next for her; what's the evolution of the media maven?“I am currently a PhD candidate and allowing more research to impact the community to bring about change in society,” shared Platt. Another entertainer who added another qualification to their name this year is DJ Glob with a Master's degree in education. His secret recipe to balancing school and music, he said, is “setting priorities, working under deadlines, and being time-conscious”. “I found myself striking a balance between family time, work, study, and music. My time budget tells me that family, work and study take up an ample amount of my time and very less time may remain. So the remaining time is spent on creative things (music),” said DJ Glob. He mentioned that his new academic achievement means a lot to him and he has now gained the confidence needed to take initiative, formulate ideas and solve day-to-day problems. “The knowledge acquired at this level of education is a valuable asset to me in this information age. In terms of my career, I am now able to navigate in the 21st century where employers require employees who possess 21st century skills such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication, just to mention a few,” he said. One of the more revered rappers and songwriters of the community of Namibian hip-hop, Fire16 embraces the notion that knowledge is power. He recently graduated with an Honours degree in public relations and art for advertising at the University of Namibia (Unam). “Obtaining this qualification means freedom because I can do more than I wanted. I am, more driven and inspired by myself. It took a while to get it and I am not stopping here, I am already thinking of doing my Master's,” said Fire16. MICHAEL KAYUNDE

Book and street smart

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-18

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Book and street smart

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-18

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