One-stop-shop for Namibian entertainers

Namartists.com is an online directory for the performing arts industry which includes theatre practitioners, sound engineers, poets, dancers and musicians, just to name a few. This is to make it easy to find the services that one needs if they are active in the performing arts. According to the innovator, award-winning male artist of the year Big Ben, it is the place where one can go to find the skills and eventually it will a place where skilled people will be vouched for as there is a rating system that will allow those with good reviews to pop up first. The website has been up and running for a year and a half and so far there are 31 performing artists listed on the site, including Equipped Dancing Academy, Lize Ehlers and Shishani.Big Ben says the progress has however, been slow as there is no money to pump into marketing the website and he currently does it from his own pocket and with the little spare time he has. “It is not a money-making scheme for me but I want it to become something as there is a problem with Namibian arts. Anybody looking for someone to do something doesn’t know how to get the performer. So if we do this properly it is going to open revenue streams for the arts industry in Namibia,” said Big Ben. The NTN is one body that was impressed by the innovation and they are currently in talks for running the website and its costs. He however said the website excludes the visual artists for now as it is not a performing art. This is also a way of getting artists to disregard themselves as artists and come out as garage performers because you never know who needs their talent and when. “This is the ultimate networking place for us. Other countries have tons of these types of things which I have also used and it works like a charm,” said Big Ben. Big Ben urges Namibian artists to come on board as one will only get known if they are visible -especially on the internet. “We Namibian artists need to realise that it’s important to be good at what we do but most importantly we need to be found when you are needed. We need to invest in connectivity,” urged Big Ben. He also expressed on how sad it is as some artists can’t keep the same telephone number for more than three months or have email addresses and that needs to change immediately. For one to sign up they must visit the website and click on the submit listings button and follow the process. This allows one to have their own account and to upload whatever they want on it for free of charge.June Shimuoshili

One-stop-shop for Namibian entertainers

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-17

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One-stop-shop for Namibian entertainers

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-17

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