From cub to Lioness
From cub to Lioness

From cub to Lioness

Rapper Lioness talks about her music career, which is definitely on the rise.
June Shimuoshili
Lioness is the 'baddest' female rapper in Namibia and she has been living up to her name in the male-dominated industry.

She had a marvellous 2018 and managed to finish her medical school studies, while also being a part of the Coke Studio experience. The latest wave she is riding is being part of the 100 emPawa Africa project with internationally renowned Mr Eazi from Nigeria.

She sat down with tjil this week.



tjil (t): If you could describe last year in a sentence, what would you say?

Lioness (L): Last year was life-changing.



t: What was most memorable about 2018?

L: The most memorable was completing medical school. That was so liberating for me, because I had worked against the odds and made it despite doubts from people, and honestly a little doubt from myself. I had a lot of young ladies and men tell me I'm their inspiration and it was a win, not just for my family and myself, but for them too. It proved that they can do anything, if they work extremely hard.



t: What is the one thing you would want us to leave in 2018?

L: I want us to leave self-doubt in 2018, which affects everything; the way you look, your goals and even affects your achievements in the sense that you don't appreciate and celebrate any victory.



t: Being one of the most celebrated artists comes with your music being pirated and copied. What's your take on people literally stealing from you in the name of love for your creativity?

L: Well stealing music from an artist is probably one of the most hurtful ways you could insult an artist. We work so hard consequently leading to sleepless nights and financial debt to put out our greatest pieces of work.

However, not all things go your way and not everyone is honest. Some still dismiss how wrong it is. I thank everyone who buys my work; truthfully I appreciate you.





t: You dropped your much-anticipated debut album last year. What was the process like for working on it?

L: My album was compiled during a very trying time. I was finishing off medical school at Unam; I was doing so many shows as well as battling some personal demons. It was quite frustrating and I really felt what being an independent artist felt like; paying for all the expenses incurred by myself. I also had to deal with artists dropping out of features. I had people tell me they weren't necessarily fond of the direction of the album and its sound. I had to be so level-headed to understand what constructive criticism and pure dislike was. There was a very fine line between those two concepts. I was burned out and toward the end of my album I didn't want to release it. I felt so insufficient and doubted myself so much. I had the help of my brothers KP Illest and Skrypt, who took time out of their own schedules to help me out. They saw the struggle, tears and victories. I couldn't have done it without them.



t: You were also the first Namibian hip-hop artist to feature on Coke Studio Africa. What was the interaction like with other female artists you met?

L: It was absolutely amazing. I worked so hard over the years and it paid off. To think I was handpicked by the team and big bosses; that was unbelievable. I worked with all sorts of women from different countries and I learned how to work on an international level. It was truly an experience of a lifetime and I believe it opened up so many unknowns about the industry and how it works. Their professionalism is unmatched; it's like nothing I've ever experienced.



t: What was the highlight from your trip to Kenya?

L: My highlight was meeting the whole Coke Studio crew and how they knew so much about me, and obviously meeting Mr Eazi.



t: You were selected as one of the 100 artists by Mr Eazi for his emPawa Africa project. How did you receive the news and what does it mean for you?

L: It is a huge platform. I am the only artist from Namibia, so that means more people are becoming acquainted with Namibian music and what it has to offer. I had put my video up and two weeks later I was the last artist to be chosen, as I was entry number 100. That was amazing.



t: What is the importance of such initiatives in the music industry?

L: It really helps artists, exposing them to other countries and offers that may be availed to them. Everyone is always scouting for new talent. Mr Eazi handpicking them means that you as an artist may be doing something right, since he is so knowledgeable about the industry and what true talent is.



t: What are you looking forward to most this year and what would you want to achieve most?

L: I really hope to make international connections, work with all sorts of artists and in different genres. I'd like to also engage with other forms of art, mainly fashion, and expand my brand. I want to travel and learn more about the industry on an international level. I would like to complete my residency; I just have to manage my time strictly and really work on discipline. It wasn't and won't be easy, but with consistency I believe I can achieve what I'd like to. I was and still would like to be that hope to artists.



June Shimuoshili

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Namibian Sun 2024-03-28

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Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 212.55/OZ UP +1.00% | Copper US$ 3.97/lb DOWN -0.0038 | Zinc US$ 2 439.40/T DOWN -0.7% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 87.21/BBP UP +0.95% | Platinum US$ 897.74/OZ UP +0.32% Sport results: Weather: Katima Mulilo: 19° | 37° Rundu: 17° | 33° Eenhana: 18° | 33° Oshakati: 20° | 31° Ruacana: 19° | 33° Tsumeb: 17° | 29° Otjiwarongo: 16° | 28° Omaruru: 18° | 31° Windhoek: 17° | 28° Gobabis: 17° | 28° Henties Bay: 16° | 19° Wind speed: 24km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 10:54, High tide: 04:57, Low Tide: 22:58, High tide: 17:16 Swakopmund: 15° | 17° Wind speed: 29km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 10:52, High tide: 04:55, Low Tide: 22:56, High tide: 17:14 Walvis Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 33km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 10:52, High tide: 04:54, Low Tide: 22:56, High tide: 17:13 Rehoboth: 18° | 29° Mariental: 22° | 32° Keetmanshoop: 21° | 34° Aranos: 21° | 31° Lüderitz: 15° | 29° Ariamsvlei: 23° | 34° Oranjemund: 15° | 21° Luanda: 27° | 30° Gaborone: 20° | 32° Lubumbashi: 17° | 24° Mbabane: 15° | 23° Maseru: 12° | 28° Antananarivo: 16° | 27° Lilongwe: 17° | 29° Maputo: 20° | 28° Windhoek: 17° | 28° Cape Town: 17° | 23° Durban: 21° | 25° Johannesburg: 18° | 28° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 32° Lusaka: 18° | 30° Harare: 15° | 31° Economic Indicators: Currency: GBP to NAD 23.97 | EUR to NAD 20.51 | CNY to NAD 2.63 | USD to NAD 19.04 | DZD to NAD 0.14 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.33 | EGP to NAD 0.39 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.74 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.8 | RUB to NAD 0.2 | INR to NAD 0.23 | USD to DZD 134.13 | USD to AOA 832.63 | USD to BWP 13.71 | USD to EGP 47.3 | USD to KES 130.98 | USD to NGN 1415.13 | USD to ZAR 19.03 | USD to ZMW 24.97 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index 73909.5 Up +0.41% | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1516.02 Down -0.13% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 12981.98 Up +0.34% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 28224.37 Down -2.87% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 212.55/OZ UP +1.00% | Copper US$ 3.97/lb DOWN -0.0038 | Zinc US$ 2 439.40/T DOWN -0.7% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 87.21/BBP UP +0.95% | Platinum US$ 897.74/OZ UP +0.32%