Namibia seeks industry input on possible return of music awards

The awards, one of Namibia’s most prominent music events, previously recognised artists including Big Ben, Gazza, KP Illest, King Tee Dee, Lize Ehlers, Top Cheri and The Tswazis.

The ceremony was previously funded by Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) in partnership with the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) for about a decade. The event went dormant in 2020 after MTC withdrew its sponsorship.

In its final year, the awards received approximately N$10.7 million in funding. Of that amount, N$7.4 million came from MTC, while an additional N$2.8 million was provided by sponsors including Huawei, Tafel Lager, Standard Bank, the National Arts Council of Namibia, Air Namibia, J&P Group of Companies, NDTC, Powerplay, the Namibia Film Commission, Namibia Society of Composers and Authors of Music (NASCAM) and Namibia Wildlife Resorts.

The NBC also contributed more than N$7 million in broadcasting costs for advertising and live television coverage of the event. Prize money awarded directly to artists accounted for about 14% of the total budget.

Following the end of its support for the awards, MTC redirected funding to other cultural events, including MTC Windhoek Fashion Week and MTC 081Music Fest between 2020 and 2021.

Arts minister Sanet Steenkamp said a stakeholder engagement session would be held before any budget or final decision is made regarding the awards’ return.

“You need to speak to the accounting officer. As you can see, there will be a stakeholders meetings first. No final decision has been made yet,” she said.

The consultation meeting is scheduled for 14 March. The initiative is being organised in partnership with the National Theatre of Namibia and is open to musicians, DJs, producers, media practitioners and other music industry professionals.

According to the ministry, the engagement aims to gather industry input on the future structure of the awards.

“This engagement forms part of a consultation process aimed at strengthening the credibility, inclusivity, and impact of the NAMAs, and will be a platform for the music industry to contribute meaningfully to the future direction and development of the NAMAs,” the ministry said.

The ministry has also asked artists to complete a survey shared on its social media platforms to provide feedback on the previous editions of the awards, expectations for a possible 2026 event, award categories and broader industry development needs.

Some artists have welcomed the consultation process while calling for reforms to the awards structure. Big Ben said the revived ceremony should aim to strengthen the wider music industry rather than focusing only on popularity.

“I hope they find ways to create long lasting impact and create an award system that shapes the industry and not only award popular people and give them a quick buck but create long lasting impact that trickles down to the business side of things,” he said.

Musician Pinehas 'Zuluboy' Shikulo also encouraged artists to participate in the consultation process.

“It’s important that they go there and share what they feel and think is right for the industry because at the end of the day, these people don’t take us seriously. How do we make this industry as a proper job like other job opportunities in the country,” he said.

Shikulo urged other artists to attend the engagement session and contribute ideas on how the industry can grow and gain broader recognition.