The king of events
Sandro Ithana is a well-known name in the northern towns on Namibia. This is because of the passion and dedication he puts in ensuring that his 'people' don't go un-entertained because they are not in the capital.
Sandro is a nickname Sem Ithana got when he used to play soccer back in the day in primary school.
Sandro is the owner of Kashipu Investment CC which ventures into other small branches such as Kashipu Event Planning, Kashipu Photography, Kashipu Clothing Branding and Kashipu Marketing and Promotions.
“My interest in entertainment began in high school where I would organise events at school over the weekend and that's when I realised the passion I had for it.
I realised if I could do it for the school, why not try something for the village as entertainment was lacking.
There were no recreational facilities and this forced the youth to turn to bars and shebeens for entertainment. I didn't like what was happening around me and I changed it. The rest is history,” he said.
Sandro's first event was hosted in 2010, Miss Okapya. He said he really never expected so much from the community but the number of people who turned up was overwhelming and it got to a point where the community where asked for more.
“After the Miss Okapya beauty contest, many schools asked to book me as their event planner. In 2014 I came up with my own brand Kashipu which means 'it's not easy' and that's when my business took off. I started tendering big events such as Miss Ongwediva Trade Fair and the Totem Expo, just to mention a few,” he said.
Sandro says the state of entertainment in the north isn't that bad but it could be better.
The majority of events held are not on standard and he wants to be part of the group of people who change that. The one thing he's learned from his events is to deliver as much quality and not to give up so that people from other regions can invest in his dream.
“I always try my level best to invite at least one established artist to my events to perform alongside the upcoming artists based where I am working. Most of the youth in the north look up to them and they hardly see them, apart from on social media.
The local authorities and businessmen are really doing a good job by bringing more entertainment to the north and at the same time awarding us tenders to organise our own events. Back then, such events were only organised by people from other towns the so called professionals, we were never good for it,” he said. To date, Sandro has managed to have 50 sponsors for his events.
Sandro's goal is to one day organise a Namibian event such as the NAMAs and expos, countrywide. He says hard work, dedication and avoiding negativity are his ingredients to succeed.
JUNE SHIMUOSHILI
Sandro is the owner of Kashipu Investment CC which ventures into other small branches such as Kashipu Event Planning, Kashipu Photography, Kashipu Clothing Branding and Kashipu Marketing and Promotions.
“My interest in entertainment began in high school where I would organise events at school over the weekend and that's when I realised the passion I had for it.
I realised if I could do it for the school, why not try something for the village as entertainment was lacking.
There were no recreational facilities and this forced the youth to turn to bars and shebeens for entertainment. I didn't like what was happening around me and I changed it. The rest is history,” he said.
Sandro's first event was hosted in 2010, Miss Okapya. He said he really never expected so much from the community but the number of people who turned up was overwhelming and it got to a point where the community where asked for more.
“After the Miss Okapya beauty contest, many schools asked to book me as their event planner. In 2014 I came up with my own brand Kashipu which means 'it's not easy' and that's when my business took off. I started tendering big events such as Miss Ongwediva Trade Fair and the Totem Expo, just to mention a few,” he said.
Sandro says the state of entertainment in the north isn't that bad but it could be better.
The majority of events held are not on standard and he wants to be part of the group of people who change that. The one thing he's learned from his events is to deliver as much quality and not to give up so that people from other regions can invest in his dream.
“I always try my level best to invite at least one established artist to my events to perform alongside the upcoming artists based where I am working. Most of the youth in the north look up to them and they hardly see them, apart from on social media.
The local authorities and businessmen are really doing a good job by bringing more entertainment to the north and at the same time awarding us tenders to organise our own events. Back then, such events were only organised by people from other towns the so called professionals, we were never good for it,” he said. To date, Sandro has managed to have 50 sponsors for his events.
Sandro's goal is to one day organise a Namibian event such as the NAMAs and expos, countrywide. He says hard work, dedication and avoiding negativity are his ingredients to succeed.
JUNE SHIMUOSHILI
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