The year of the newbies
From the MCs to the performances, fashion and the award winners - if you missed the awards show, here is a recap of what happened.
Former entertainment journalist Gordon Joseph won the very first Best Entrainment Journalist at the NAMAs in 2015 and since then has kept a relatively low profile, delving into other lines of news, but tjil caught up with him to get his take on this year's NAMA event.
In his own, sometimes acerbic and sometimes hilarious tone, Joseph tells all.
On the entire event itself…
“I think the NAMAs have grown in leaps and bounds from those blunder year at Ramatex. The Saturday-night stage was world-class, the prize money rewards people who work so hard and spend hours in the studio to perfect their craft. So much hard work and dedication goes into staging an event of that magnitude and as someone who has served on the steering committee, I know how daunting a task it can be. If it were up to me, I'd however scrap the Friday night awards show - it has always seemed like a bit of a rehearsal for the Saturday show and this year was no different.”
On the presenters…
“Uejaa reminded us why she's considered Namibia's classiest and most gracious MC. She really held her own next to the iconic Bonang Matheba. Mappz has a charisma to him that's just rare. He is just comfortable and authentic on stage while Paul on the other hand is a boss… his experience and skill showed and the new presenter Joe, well, I foresee great things for him, as too the girl who presented with him on Friday evening. As for all the other presenters, well my mama did tell me to rather keep quiet if I have nothing nice to say.”
On the fashion…
Best: “Fashionista Leah Masikia was a goddess. She had just the right amount of sexy and just the right among of attitude with her dress, and she easily upstaged everyone. Poet Miss Anne turned heads, and while others didn't like her outfit, I thought it was daring and I am in awe of her confidence. She was sassy. Oteya was gorgeous in what looked like a simple pink jumpsuit. Radio presenter Belinda was blue-carpet ready and Suzy kept her signature composed and polished look.”
Worst: Well, the worst list is endless… selecting a few might be an impossible task. I think it's a tie between oh-so-amazing Female Donkey who stunned in white complete with a crown thing on her head. Then there was also musician Om'nenenhu Ndawana with his Aladdin-inspired look that just seemed like a heavy load to carry… you know those thick and expensive Home Choice curtains, yeah that's what comes to mind. Bonang looked amazing in the Roberto dress but uhm… hasn't it been over-worn? Florence was on her way to a matric farewell on Friday, and Priscilla Dessert Queen's on stage outfit on Friday night was the direct opposite of her amazing vocals.”
Performances…
Best: “Well the event and the production itself has grown in leaps and bounds, but that growth isn't complemented by our artists' ability to perform live. It's kinda sad, very few owned the stage. I think rapper Effy's performance was touching, and the vocals of the girl he sings with, well, she was so much more compelling than some of the seasoned female performers. Gazza reminded us why he is Namibia's most celebrated musician, Sally and Adora were a breath of fresh air on stage and although nervous and a little shaky, I actually loved Florence's Friday night performance. Doris has such amazing vocal abilities, but her performance became awkward when the other female artists joined her on stage, we are still trying figure out whether they ended up there by accident. Oh, and seeing Elemotho on stage, I think that was a treat, a very special treat.”
Worst: “I think worst was as a result of commitment. It is time we are honest and establish that only two Namibian artists can sing and dance at the same time, Sally and Freeda. Everyone else should stop trying. We all know singer Priscilla can sing, she is a vocal powerhouse, but she was out of breath for the most part of the performance and I think the message about self-love by having fuller figured back-up dancer was powerful, but the dancers just didn't commit. They really did let her down. Sean K on the other hand, had some impressive vocal moments, but the choreography was a hot, hot, hot mess (still don't know what those dancers were doing there or what was happening behind him on stage). I've always maintained that Jaleel was one to watch, but with this performance he wasn't really there, he might as well have not been there. I was also excited about the Maranatha and Rebecca performance, but for me it became really overly dramatic and theatrical and I didn't like it. But the worst is definitely the group that closed the Friday night show, the Harry Simon song. It's an absolutely horrible song, and stage was filled with a bunch of singers who were just screaming things and they were all over the place. What a shameful tribute to a man of Harry Simon's calibre.”
On the winners
Best: “In most of the categories went as expected. Gazza works so hard and to see him at the top of his game after so many tears, that's inspiring. Maranatha is really coming into her own and I expected her win. Song of the Year was between Young T and Sally from the start, and Sally bagged two awards I think and she so deserves them. But I think I was the happiest to see Jericho win, I don't know but I just don't think he gets the respect he deserves.”
Worst: “Well, I will admit, I've been M.I.A. for a little while, but even I heard the girl who won Best Female Artist for the first time and judging from social media, many others don't know her either. It's complicated… popularity don't always mean quality music, but equally, I think if you are going to Best Best Female Artist, other aspects should be considered too. It's like last year, when Ann Singer won Best Album or something but Namibians learned of her the first time. There are too many artists who appear during the NAMAs for the first time and then disappear into thin air. Worst also is the confetti for the Best Male Artist and none for Best Female. The “woke and call it out” activist in me wants to call it sexist at best, but let's pretend it was a technical glitch, okay.”
Biggest winner…
“Uejaa, so many of others concluded that she will disappear into the background once Bonang appears on stage, but nope, she done held her own, and impressively so. Perhaps next year we should have Ueeja host the whole show, from the blue carpet to main event, she's clearly more than capable.
June Shimuoshili
In his own, sometimes acerbic and sometimes hilarious tone, Joseph tells all.
On the entire event itself…
“I think the NAMAs have grown in leaps and bounds from those blunder year at Ramatex. The Saturday-night stage was world-class, the prize money rewards people who work so hard and spend hours in the studio to perfect their craft. So much hard work and dedication goes into staging an event of that magnitude and as someone who has served on the steering committee, I know how daunting a task it can be. If it were up to me, I'd however scrap the Friday night awards show - it has always seemed like a bit of a rehearsal for the Saturday show and this year was no different.”
On the presenters…
“Uejaa reminded us why she's considered Namibia's classiest and most gracious MC. She really held her own next to the iconic Bonang Matheba. Mappz has a charisma to him that's just rare. He is just comfortable and authentic on stage while Paul on the other hand is a boss… his experience and skill showed and the new presenter Joe, well, I foresee great things for him, as too the girl who presented with him on Friday evening. As for all the other presenters, well my mama did tell me to rather keep quiet if I have nothing nice to say.”
On the fashion…
Best: “Fashionista Leah Masikia was a goddess. She had just the right amount of sexy and just the right among of attitude with her dress, and she easily upstaged everyone. Poet Miss Anne turned heads, and while others didn't like her outfit, I thought it was daring and I am in awe of her confidence. She was sassy. Oteya was gorgeous in what looked like a simple pink jumpsuit. Radio presenter Belinda was blue-carpet ready and Suzy kept her signature composed and polished look.”
Worst: Well, the worst list is endless… selecting a few might be an impossible task. I think it's a tie between oh-so-amazing Female Donkey who stunned in white complete with a crown thing on her head. Then there was also musician Om'nenenhu Ndawana with his Aladdin-inspired look that just seemed like a heavy load to carry… you know those thick and expensive Home Choice curtains, yeah that's what comes to mind. Bonang looked amazing in the Roberto dress but uhm… hasn't it been over-worn? Florence was on her way to a matric farewell on Friday, and Priscilla Dessert Queen's on stage outfit on Friday night was the direct opposite of her amazing vocals.”
Performances…
Best: “Well the event and the production itself has grown in leaps and bounds, but that growth isn't complemented by our artists' ability to perform live. It's kinda sad, very few owned the stage. I think rapper Effy's performance was touching, and the vocals of the girl he sings with, well, she was so much more compelling than some of the seasoned female performers. Gazza reminded us why he is Namibia's most celebrated musician, Sally and Adora were a breath of fresh air on stage and although nervous and a little shaky, I actually loved Florence's Friday night performance. Doris has such amazing vocal abilities, but her performance became awkward when the other female artists joined her on stage, we are still trying figure out whether they ended up there by accident. Oh, and seeing Elemotho on stage, I think that was a treat, a very special treat.”
Worst: “I think worst was as a result of commitment. It is time we are honest and establish that only two Namibian artists can sing and dance at the same time, Sally and Freeda. Everyone else should stop trying. We all know singer Priscilla can sing, she is a vocal powerhouse, but she was out of breath for the most part of the performance and I think the message about self-love by having fuller figured back-up dancer was powerful, but the dancers just didn't commit. They really did let her down. Sean K on the other hand, had some impressive vocal moments, but the choreography was a hot, hot, hot mess (still don't know what those dancers were doing there or what was happening behind him on stage). I've always maintained that Jaleel was one to watch, but with this performance he wasn't really there, he might as well have not been there. I was also excited about the Maranatha and Rebecca performance, but for me it became really overly dramatic and theatrical and I didn't like it. But the worst is definitely the group that closed the Friday night show, the Harry Simon song. It's an absolutely horrible song, and stage was filled with a bunch of singers who were just screaming things and they were all over the place. What a shameful tribute to a man of Harry Simon's calibre.”
On the winners
Best: “In most of the categories went as expected. Gazza works so hard and to see him at the top of his game after so many tears, that's inspiring. Maranatha is really coming into her own and I expected her win. Song of the Year was between Young T and Sally from the start, and Sally bagged two awards I think and she so deserves them. But I think I was the happiest to see Jericho win, I don't know but I just don't think he gets the respect he deserves.”
Worst: “Well, I will admit, I've been M.I.A. for a little while, but even I heard the girl who won Best Female Artist for the first time and judging from social media, many others don't know her either. It's complicated… popularity don't always mean quality music, but equally, I think if you are going to Best Best Female Artist, other aspects should be considered too. It's like last year, when Ann Singer won Best Album or something but Namibians learned of her the first time. There are too many artists who appear during the NAMAs for the first time and then disappear into thin air. Worst also is the confetti for the Best Male Artist and none for Best Female. The “woke and call it out” activist in me wants to call it sexist at best, but let's pretend it was a technical glitch, okay.”
Biggest winner…
“Uejaa, so many of others concluded that she will disappear into the background once Bonang appears on stage, but nope, she done held her own, and impressively so. Perhaps next year we should have Ueeja host the whole show, from the blue carpet to main event, she's clearly more than capable.
June Shimuoshili
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