Namibia: Suzy Eises and Imm’s Nicolau to play At Home With Goethe online gig

The performance makes part of the At Home With Goethe initiative where local artists will transform their homes into mini studios and discuss their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The performance will be streamed live via the Goethe-Institute Namibia Facebook page as well as Eises' and Nicolau's Instagram accounts.

“A lot of people don’t have much to do at home and many might feel lonely,” Eises told Music In Africa. “We as musicians want to bring joy and healing to their homes for an hour and connect with them as they interact with us."

Eises said the performance would comply with social distancing guidelines as directed by the country’s President Hage Geingob. She said the event would feature original compositions as well as covers.

"I will use the platform to talk about the challenges we as musicians and small businesses face and how we are coping. We will talk about what we have learnt and about the blessings and the burdens that came from the lockdown. I would like to encourage people to stay home and use this as an opportunity to reflect on what and who matters most during this tough time. I encourage everyone to stay strong and positive,” the Namibia Annual Music Awards winner said.

Nicolau said the two musicians wanted “to take people on a journey and into a new world for an hour with our music, just to make life normal again.”

Goethe-Institut Namibia cultural programmes coordinator Michelle Namases said At Home With Goethe was designed to accommodate all artistic disciplines.

“Each edition includes an interactive Q&A session for artists to connect with their fans and grow their fan base, which will be followed by a performance," she said. "We want artists to continue expressing themselves and to engage with whatever inspires them during this lockdown in order to break barriers that have hindered developments in their professions in the past. We hope to also inspire the public and foster the appreciation of arts and culture in Namibia.”

Namases said the COVID-19 pandemic had forced many industries, including the cultural industry, to reconceptualise the approach of their work.

“We have shifted gears in solidarity with creatives in Namibia and broadened the execution of operations to be more accessible via different channels, such as more online, and maintained relations with partners, friends and the public regarding our projects. Many creatives’ flow of finances is challenged during this lockdown and we hope to assist where possible.”

Eises and Nicolau’s performance will be streamed at 7pm.