MTC’s 081Every1 Fest was billed to be the biggest music concert of the year and judging by the sheer excitement on the faces of the thousands of revellers who attended the event, this was no doubt the case.
Tim Ekandjo, MTC’s chief of human capital and corporate affairs, who also doubled as the festival director, said after the event: “The Festival has been a resounding success, with thousands from around the country getting a taste of local and international performances on the day”. He went on to express his happiness that Namibians filled up the Sam Nujoma Stadium, saying that it was a an example of how willing Namibians were to come together in support of a worthy cause aimed at empowering the less fortunate.
Many performers on the line-up did what was expected of them and gave the crowd brilliant performances throughout the day. Zimbabwean celebrated musician Jah Prayzah and his band were electric as they made even those who don’t know their songs get on their feet.
Always electrifying with their popular songs, PDK were once again unstoppable as they showcased spectacular dance routines for some of their hit songs like ‘Iikutu’ and ‘Ondjema’. They were joined by Castro who complemented their dance routines with his own enigmatic stage presence.
Hailing from Outjo, Namibian Annual Music Awards (NAMAs) male artist of the year Kalux was another musician who made sure his performance was unforgettable. Speaking to The Weekender after the event, Kalux said that he hopes more events of this kind are held so that more Namibians can have access to the favourite music stars.
“Hopefully other big companies like MTC will sponsor such events more often,” he said. He was also impressed by the fact that many of his fans travelled from as far as Outjo and Otjiwarongo to watch him perform.
Rappers Lioness and KP Illest did not let the fact that they were on early deter them from giving their best performances.
South African musician Busiswa was unstoppable as she gave the crowd an incredible show and she later shared the stage with Namibia’s own Sally ‘Boss Madam’ for their hit duet ‘Bim Bim’.
One of the best things about the event was the lack of any major security breaches – all possible due to the heavy police presence at the venue and numerous security measures in place.
Ekandjo said this was proof that concerts could be held in Katutura without major security concerns overshadowing the event. “With the strong presence of tight security at the venue, the festival demystified the security myth surrounding the stadium,” he said.
Nandaku Tjinae, a concert-goer who spent the best part of the afternoon and evening at the event, said that she felt safe throughout. “It was really nice and safe. The only thing they could have done is put the stage in such a way that we could all sit down when we wanted to. Being in the general access area was tiring because we had to stand the whole time. But the event was safe and we had a good time,” she said.
The event was truly one for the books and as PDK performed a special song for the President at the end of the night, and with many in the crowd joining, it was clear that, for one day at least, young and old Namibians were united in song and for the worthy cause of providing shelter for the less fortunate.
While his performance left a lot to be desired, Nigerian musician Davido struggled to keep super-fans off him during his performance and though it has not been confirmed, it’s rumoured that his shoes were grabbed off his feet when he jumped into the crowd. Social media was buzzing with a photo of his shoes which appeared to have been in the possession of more than one person.
While he is usually professional and super disciplined during any stage appearance, something seemed to have gotten control of Gazza when he made a controversial statement, unprovoked. After saying that he wished he was Muslim, he declared that he would be able to marry all the women in the crowd – a statement which didn’t go down too well with everybody. In true star style, however, he was quick to issue an apology which was directed not only to the Muslim community but to “anyone else who was offended”. The apology was well received by many who described it as “genuine”.
Because of the overwhelming support shown by music fans who bought tickets to the show, the Standard Bank Shack Dweller’s Foundation will receive a boost in their fundraising efforts. The federation is a non-profit organisation which seeks to assist underprivileged Namibians to buy houses. Proceeds from the 081Every1 Fest will assist this campaign through the Buy-A-Brick initiative.
