Keeping it real

What’s up, tjil readers? Shout out to you guys for keeping the culture alive. Preparing this edition really got me thinking about stuff.

I think it’s great that Namibian music released commercially this year has been nothing but hits. But here is the ugly truth: The living conditions of a black man - or person of colour, to be politically correct – has deteriorated even more because of the damage the pandemic has done on our already small economy. There are still so many informal settlements and a severe lack of infrastructure in many parts of Namibia. This is where our modern-day music is supposed to play its part as the voice of the disadvantaged, instead of always making turn up music.

It’s time Namibian music gets back to reality, which for most of us is hardships and hustle. In the last two years or so, there were protests happening among different communities from the landless to the LGBTQI; Namibian music needs to be behind these causes. Social injustice is all around us; low wages, innocent children being mistreated, innocent women being abused at the hands of their partners, and white-collar crimes. It’s disturbing.

I do not want to turn this column into some political forum but I believe that music should be a reflection of life and at the moment, the reality of music consumers is not being represented enough. I acknowledge the few artists touching on pertinent issues with their lyrics, but we need more. We have been in a pandemic over a year now, yet we do not have a viral song creating awareness about this virus. Yes, there have been songs and campaigns aimed at addressing it, but they have been lukewarm to me, so again – more needs to be done.

I am starting to question the existence of the music game five years from now. What will the industry be like? Will we have another Skrypt or Ethnix or will we have a flood of ‘skrrrt skrrt’ artists - for a lack of a better word - who sing or rap with little or no substance in their music? Will we ever have a surge of female vocalists killing it at the same time or have we been reduced to only having Etjo from Ethnix holding it down for all female singers?

I acknowledge the great Namibian music released this year; I just feel it’s more celebratory music when there are a plethora of themes to explore lyrically.