It’s NAMAs weekend

The NAMAs are by far the biggest night on the Namibian music calendar - the Grammy Awards of Namibia. Namibia’s darling girl Riana Nel, who is one of the top-selling African artists right now, makes a debut on the NAMAs stage alongside her sister Nianell to serenade on home ground. Some of Namibia’s other top musicians will also be there to entertain. tjil gives you all the details on all the goodies. The performers This year’s awards show will have more than 30 performers, including some of Namibia’s most celebrated musicians and a number of debut artists. Ten artists will perform at the Friday night Industry Awards. They are: Blossom, Araffath, Dixon, Mr Makoya, NIA, Lonette, KK, Kalux, Exit and Blacksheep. This year, unlike last year, the industry awards will also be broadcast live. On Saturday evening, Lil D, Gazza featuring Uhuru, D-Naff featuring Tequila & V-LO, Female Donkey, Donsy & Daisy, Sean Naude, Lize-Ehlers, The Dotcomz, Elize, Nianell, Riana Nel, Bullet Ya Kaoko, Diop, Stardust, Black Vulcanite, Twazis and Oteya and two surprise artists will perform. Two venues with multiple stages Unlike last year, this year’s ceremony will be held at two different venues at the Swakopmund Indoor Sport Centre. Organiser Tim Ekandjo told tjil that the sets at the Swakopmund Indoor Sports Centre will consist of over 300 pieces of steel trusses and staging, over 250 light fittings, over 60 speaker cabinets, more than 300 hours of setup and rehearsals, and a crew of over 100 production specialists. Sources in Swakopmund have revealed that the Saturday night show will have multiple stages and is set leave the audience in awe. The Friday night show, which is exclusively by invitation, will be held at the sport centre’s conference room. Mercedes-Benz escort for nominees Nominees will not only feel like stars; this year, they will also be treated like stars, just for being nominated. All nominees will be driven from the Swakopmund bungalows to the venue’s blue carpet with C-class Mercedes-Benzes, it was revealed. Ekandjo said there will be separate parking areas and entrances for VIPs and the public at the Swakopmund Indoor Sports Centre on both nights. The blue carpet and live broadcast On Friday evening, The Blue Carpet live transmission starts at 20:00 while the live awards show starts at 21:00. On Saturday evening, the NBC transmission will start at 19:30 with a 15-minute insert of previous NAMA highlights. At 19:55 a live Blue Carpet transmission will start. The live show broadcast will start at 21:00. People around the world can watch both the Friday and Saturday Blue Carpet and award ceremonies via live streaming by logging on to www.mtcnama.mobi with a computer, tablet or smartphone. A total of 17 categories will be awarded on Friday evening: Best Afrikaans, Shambo, Reggae, Rock, Gospel, Kizomba, Best Single, A Capella, Best Musical Event, Best Live Performance, Most Disciplined Artist, Most Socially Responsible Artist, Entertainment Radio DJ, Entertainment Journalist, Best Producer, Best Song with Message and the Lifetime Achievement Award. On Saturday evening awards will be handed out in 20 categories: Best Damara Punch, Afro-Pop, Oviritje, Best Collaboration, Kwaito, R&B, Rap/Hip Hop, House, Group/Duo, Best Newcomer, Traditional, Music Video, Most Popular Artist, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Soukous/Kwasa, Radio Song of the Year, NAMA Special Award, Best Female Artist, and Best Male Artist of the Year.