D-Naff Defines Contemporary Namibian Gospel Music

Multiple award-winning musician Naftali Amukwelele, popularly known as D-Naff, is the embodiment of Namibia’s modern day gospel music.

Born at Eendombe village at Ongandjera, in the Omusati region, the artist, who prides himself in singing gospel and inspirational music, is the country’s most decorated gospel artist.

Being the most awarded gospel artist in Namibia with over 15 awards to his name, including two awards won in the United States (US), D-Naff surely defines local modern-day gospel music through his powerful songs of worship.

D-Naff’s singing career, which was inspired by his grandma’s singing while he was growing up at Eendombe, started way back in the 90s while he was still a pupil in Windhoek.

“The singing was instilled in me by my grandmother, who raised me in the absence of my parents, because she was a singing granny, especially whenever she was in the field, cooking or fetching water. But, I started my music career back in the early 90s while still a pupil at Jan Jonker Afrikaner Secondary School in Katutura,” D-Naff explains.

“I started under a group called the Glamour Boys which was an a capella group whose five members were all part of the National Youth Choir of Namibia, under the leadership of conductor Ernst van Biljon. The group toured France in 1998, during the Fifa World Cup under the sponsorship of the Franco Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC).”

The gospel star realised he wanted to be a singer upon returning from France with the Glamour Boys in 1998 and after giving his life to Jesus.

Explains D-Naff: “I went on to establish a gospel hip-hop group called Eagles in Flight which later became Heaven’s Dialect. Fame did not come overnight for me and it really required a lot of hard work and patience to become a star the people started to appreciate.

“After the exodus of the group’s producer, Inna Goroh, to the US for studies, Heaven’s Dialect disbanded and I went on to establish another group called Eagle’s Mentality, which became the winner of the 2005 best gospel group at the Sanlam-NBC Music Awards.”

Important to know is that while growing up it was not always gospel for the towering musician, who was mostly into old-school hip-hop and R&B music as well, in his own admission.

The ‘Oshagwana’ hitmaker’s first big gig was at the Sanlam-NBC Music Awards, a stage which he says propelled him into his destiny. He is currently in the studio recording his 15th studio album.

The singer, whose awards include most disciplined artist and most socially responsible artist of the year, has also released big hits like ‘Omwa’ and ‘Eitavelo’ featuring Tequila, ‘Muinyo Wandje Rizareka’ featuring Lioness, Araffath and Zikii, and ‘Esiku Lyekommando’.

D-Naff admits that although he has been known for his great hits dropped over the years, he singles out ‘Oshagwana’ as his favourite song.

“All songs on my albums are favourites but ‘Oshagwana’ will always carry sweet memories of my beloved late mother, in whose memory the song was produced. The song also serves as a comforter to many families who lost their loved ones,” he says.

“There was never a time I doubted my singing ability because I am a product of choral singing, which involves a group of people, a choir, singing together to create a cohesive musical sound, emphasising collaboration and blending voices to achieve harmony and unity.”

D-Naff says he had a few favourite singers growing up, like Zimbabwean jazz band Devera Ngwena, Naughty by Nature, rap superstar Tupac and R&B group All 4 One, but now he is completely blown away by the singing ability of Namibia’s own queen of song, Tequila.

He fuses his music in the style of kwaito, hip-hop, kizomba, dancehall and afropop. He is also a motivational and inspirational speaker who has visited more than 100 schools, including the Namibia University of Science and Technology and the University of Namibia.

The gospel star, who says he is inspired to sing because of his hope for the future, has had a fulltime job as an immigration officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security for over two decades now.

D-Naff, who has also graced big stages in Washington and Chicago in the US, London in England, Johannesburg in South Africa and Lusaka in Zambia, mentions the NAMAs and the MTC Gospel Concert in Windhoek, as the biggest stages he ever performed on.

Reacting on a question if Namibian singers are good enough to compete outside the country’s borders, D-Naff boldly responds that some of our singers are very good and far better than some singers he has listened to from around the world. He says they only need financial support, high royalties and endorsements.

His advises young and aspiring musicians to continuously work on their craft.

“Don’t stress when your first songs don’t hit it, keep singing and improving. One day you will make it. Ask advice from the veteran musicians who started before you,” D-Naff says.

“They know something and have seen things. Be careful not to be quick to sign with record labels, you may be signing away your soul. Do research before you agree to some contracts.”

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