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Music of Namibia

The music of Namibia includes a number of folk styles, as well as pop, rock, reggae, jazz, house and hip hop.

The Sanlam-NBC Music Awards and the Namibian Music Awards are two separate institutions that give out annual awards at shows on December 2 and May 6 respectively.[1] The Namibia Society of Composers and Authors of Music (NASCAM) has helped promote Namibian music within and outside the country.


The Namibian music industry remains under-developed, with no major record labels or distribution infrastructure.[2] A lack of focus to produce economically viable Namibian music products and the absence of effective marketing and distribution structures are two of the factors inherently hampering the development of the local music industry.The country's online music retailer, DONLU offers streaming services.

The 's oviritje is popularly known as konsert. Otjiherero is the primary language of Oviritje music. Oviritje was made popular by Kareke Henguva as a pioneer of Modern Oviritje Music when he together with the likes of Kakazona Kavari, Meisie Henguva and Oomzulu Pietersen introduced the keyboard element as prior to the introduction of the keyboard Oviritje Music was performed with vocals only. Prior to Kareke people like Matuarari Kaakunga and Bella Kazongominja have developed the Oviritje genre.[1] Today in recognition of his contribution to the Oviritje music Kareke Henguva has been accorded the title of doctor of modern Oviritje music. Other groups that took over from Henguva and made this music popular are The Wild Dogs from the Okakarara area with their hit song "Kaondeka", Okazera from the Omaheke Region, the first group to include a San-speaking member, Bullet ya Kaoko, based in Opuwo in the Kunene Region, Tuponda, Katja, Millenium, Kareke and the United Kingdom-based Oviritje queen Kakazona ua Kavari.

Herero people

Maǀgaisa, a dance music genre commonly known as , is performed by Stanley, ǃAubasen, Dixson and Damara Dikding. Phura Duwe is known to be the king of Ma/gaisa as he came up this genre of music then follows the likes of Raphael and Pele, Pule, Ruby and Riio.[2]

Damara Punch

Traditional Namibian dances occur at events such as weddings and at traditional festivals such as the Caprivi Arts Festival. Folk music accompanies storytelling or dancing. The Nama people use various strings, flutes and drums while the Bantu use xylophones, gourds and horn trumpets.[3]


Many female singers are entering the Ma/gaisa world yearly.[3] The genre was derived from Damara traditional music and is mainly sung in Khoekhoegowab.

Mshasho Productions

Gazza Music Productions

Yaziza Entertainment

Notable Namibian record labels include:

List of Afrikaans singers

"Music Awards Organisers Reach Compromise". AllAfrica.com. Retrieved September 18, 2005.

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"Artists A-Z". Nammusic.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved September 18, 2005.

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"Namibian musicians exploited". The Economist. Archived from the original on March 11, 2006. Retrieved September 18, 2005.

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"Country Information on Namibia". SOS Children's Villages. Archived from the original on March 26, 2007. Retrieved January 3, 2007.

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"DONLU A Digital Hub for Namibian Music.

[4]

Mans, Minette (2004). Music as Instrument of Diversity and Unity: Notes on a Namibian Landscape. Nordic Africa Institute.  91-7106-510-5.

ISBN

England, Nicholas M. (1995). Music Among the Zu' Wa-Si and Related Peoples of Namibia, Botswana, and Angola. Garland.  0-8240-2986-0.

ISBN

Hebert, David G. (2006). (PDF). International Journal of Education & the Arts. ISSN 1529-8094. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-02. Retrieved 2006-04-21.

"Teaching Music and Dance of Namibia: A Review Essay"

French National Library. Accessed November 25, 2010

Audio clips - traditional music of Namibia.