There’s just no stopping Luis Munana

Briefly tell us about yourself; where were you born and raised? A: I am a humble, down-to-earth guy who likes to see the best in everyone no matter what, that quiet guy in the corner on a mission to do well and be good. I am very much a small-town boy who was born and raised in Rundu. I’m told too many times that I am too nice and I am too kind; I need to be sterner because this industry will eat me alive. But I haven’t changed, I’m still that guy who’d rather turn the other cheek or apologise to you even if it was you who did me wrong . That’s just who I am. Who is Luis Munana when he’s not on a runway, at an event or in front of a camera? A shy guy who enjoys watching series, staying indoors and going to church and also doing research online about topics that interest me. I just want to be happy, like everyone else. You are mostly known for being a model. What are some of the biggest misconceptions about male modelling? Male modelling is not the same as beauty pageants. I am not a pageant person. I get paid to do shows and TV commercials as well as campaigns. Whereas pageants are competitions you enter in the hope of coming out victorious to win a prize. Soccer players and other male athletes also model for big brands such Nike and Adidas - that’s modelling too! You have many other interests other than modelling; tell us about some of the projects that you have been busy with since BBA. I’m exploring my MCing and hosting passion. I’m also producing other shows which will soon be announced, but behind the scenes as a creative director and producer. You’ve been travelling across Africa and the world. Tell us about that. My manager and I decided to go the direction of MCing and hosting across Africa. So I’m doing appearances in some African countries while MCing and hosting events. Such events include music festivals, CD launches for various artists, corporate events, award ceremonies, private parties and brand launches. The aim is to be a respected master of ceremonies and host across Africa. I want to host bigger events such as the Kora All Africa awards, MTV Base Awards and the BET Awards. I recently posted a picture where I was MCing an event in Rwanda, holding a microphone, and I captioned it: “Rwanda today, tomorrow I’ll host an MTV Base Award ceremony.” A few minutes later the official MTV Base page reposted my picture, liked it and followed me back. It was shocking because they only repost or follow top worldwide musicians. So who knows, soon I might be on that world stage, starting with Africa of course. My upcoming MCing events are in Uganda and Ghana. I’m so excited because it’s a bigger stage and other supporting stars and celebrities from Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Africa and Ghana will be there. It’s scary when you think about it but it’s my passion so I have to make it work. I’ve already prepared myself mentally. And I’ve already packed my bags. My recent trips to Tanzania and Rwanda went well, as both events were a success and the people embraced me. In terms of your career in television, what can Namibians expect from you? I’m going back to TV presenting in 2016. I will work on several shows on our national broadcaster and on another continental platform. I can’t say at this stage what the show is because we are still in the production and development phase. But I’ve been off TV this entire year to prepare for 2016. It’s not a secret that I’ve been spotted with a camera crew several times across Africa and also in Namibia. But the question of what show we are shooting will soon be answered. Aside from TV presenting, I’m directing and producing another show, so it’s quite an exciting journey and I’m learning a lot about the broadcasting industry from people who’ve been in the game for a long time. You have a huge social media following and have managed to maintain a squeaky-clean image. In a time where there is constantly some celebrity feud on social media, how do you consistently manage to avoid such drama? I respect my followers. I’m one of the most followed personalities in Namibia on social media and I hold that in high regard. I don’t want to subject my followers to drama. I have strong Christian values that I hold dearly. At the end of the day I am someone’s son, brother, cousin and friend. It’s not nice to act a fool on social media just because you can. Someday when E! Entertainment comes knocking on my door to be a presenter on that channel I’m sure they’d want someone with a good work ethic and drama free. I think about the bigger picture. First Lady Monica Geingos also mentioned the same thing at a conference where she said: “Doing the right thing is rewarding today because you never know where you will end up tomorrow or which position you’ll end up holding.” Furthermore, every decision affects my loved ones, be it directly or indirectly. I’m not perfect, just very respectful. Actions have consequences. I focus on me and what I set out to do and who I plan to become. I don’t watch what others are doing or engage in things that will distract me from my path. My manager also plays a huge role. He keeps me grounded. What are some of the values that guide you, both careerwise and in terms of your personal life? I was raised in a Christian home. Before making a move I imagine what my parents would say if they were present or next to me. When I do my shows, or when I get on stage, I focus on work. Once I’m done with work, I go straight to my hotel room and watch TV or sleep. I don’t go to after-parties or go out for the celebration after an event. I think that has helped me to stay away from certain behaviours that would’ve ended my blossoming career by now. You were honoured by the Namibian Business Hall of Fame. Tell us about that? Well, I was inducted in the Namibian Business Hall of Fame as an Emerging Entrepreneur. I feel really honoured because laureates and established entrepreneurs that have been inducted are the likes of Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun , Knowledge Katti and Frans Indongo, to mention a few. I feel like I am well on my way as long as I stay motivated and keep working hard. The award is my first business award and it made me realise that my work in the production world hasn’t gone unnoticed. I didn’t even know people were aware of my work as a young entrepreneur because all they see is a man in the entertainment industry and they assume I don’t have business interests. Hopefully someday I’ll get inducted as a laureate. It’s almost holiday season. What are your plans for December? I haven’t been to Rundu, my home town, since I left BBA last year. My parents and family as well as my close friends from Rundu all came to Windhoek on several occasions so I didn’t feel the need to go home soon because leaving would mean I’d be away from work. But now after a long time I’m finally going home in December and I’m going to host an event which will feature several artists as well as Namibian personalities. This will be my way of saying thanks to everyone in Rundu for their endless support. Anything else you wish to add? I’m just grateful to everyone in Namibia who has supported me. Every time when I am doing a job outside Namibia, I know that I am representing our country with pride. I make sure the people know I am from the Land of the Brave. I think everyone should represent this beautiful country with pride. · Follow Luis on twitter @luismunana, on Instagram and Facebook.