We are barely three months into the year and gospel singer D-Naff has a list of projects that some musicians don’t manage in an entire year.
A civil servant by day and musician by night, this award-winning hit-maker has lined up some impressive collaborations and projects for the next few weeks, including collaborations with some of southern Africa’s biggest gospel acts.
Although they met initially when Sebastian Magacha first visited Namibia in 2012, D-Naff and this award-winning Zimbabwean-born gospel star are embarking on their first musical project together this year. Magacha arrived in Namibia a week ago and by Tuesday was hard at work in the studio with D-Naff and producer Araffath Mahuure, adding the finishing touches to their single, ‘Ndinotenda Jesus’.
“This is a celebratory song where one says thank you to God for everything and even though one might not always have the right words to say, just thank God for everything that surrounds you,” Magacha says.
Magacha, who describes himself as a Christian, a minister and a musician, has shared the stage with the likes of Rebecca Malope, Kirk Franklin and Joyous Celebrations. He has also performed in the US, the UK and Canada.
D-Naff expressed excitement at the new project. “I’m used to being in my comfort zone in Namibia and I believe that going outside Namibia will get me onto a bigger platform, get my music out there and generate more revenue for me,” he says, adding: “I’m very excited about this whole phase in my life”.
D-Naff admits that as soon as he heard Magacha’s music, he immediately liked it and decided on a music collaboration. “Sebastian came to minister at our church conference some years ago and that’s where we met,” he said.
Machada recalls his first visit to Namibia, saying that the welcome he received at the time was overwhelming. “It was an eye-opener for me. The people made me feel welcome with the way they responded to my music.”
Another musician who is working with D-Naff at the moment is Zambian musician Ty2. The two have already worked on three songs in the past and are seeking to continue with yet another collaboration.
Ty2, who is known for his hit song ‘Smile’, is also working on his latest album which is set for release in March.
The artists say that these collaborations will not end here. They plan on continuing the partnerships and further exploring cultural exchanges between their respective countries.
While he continues to reap the rewards of his hard work in the studio, D-Naff has not forgotten to give back to those who are less fortunate. Under D-Naff Investment, the gospel musician ‘invests’ in people’s lives in various ways.
“What we do is, whenever we have an event, we call all our partners under D-Naff Investments to invest in people’s lives like paying children’s school fees or paying for students’ tuition fees,” D-Naff says.
This work is one of the things that he holds dear to his heart because of how it impacts people’s lives. “This is something that we’re really proud of. The scripture says that everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand more. So that is exactly why we are doing this,” D-Naff says.
D-Naff Investments also works in the areas of construction as well as motivational talks at tertiary institutions. At the time of our interview, the gospel star was invited to give a presentation at the International University of Management. “We only help students who really deserve help and anyone who needs it can contact us via our Facebook page.”
Asked how his religious beliefs translate into his music and philantrophic work, D-Naff says that he is faced with more pressure to live a certain way. “In every industry, the more you’re out there, the more people rate you. Whether you’re a church person or a secular guy, they will rate how you’re ministering and spreading the Word out there. This means that you have to work hard and go out there instead of waiting for people to come to you,” he says.
While he has already bagged numerous Namibian Annual Music Awards, D-Naff is hoping to add to his trophy collection at the upcoming awards show. “I always say that I’m a winner and the top is where I belong,” he says with no sign of immodesty.
The confident musician lost out on the Best Gospel Artist of the Year award to NIA last year but is hopeful that this time around, the trophy will be his.
A question he says he receives a lot is whether there is a possibility of him giving a chance to younger gospel artists who want to be groomed by him and ultimately follow in his footsteps. He responded with no hesitation: “My answer is always that when I was coming up, who gave me a chance? And if I give you a chance, it might even kill you because you may not be ready for it.” For him, no matter who you are or how you are associated to him, paving your own way is the best way to make it.
“Even my own wife who’s a singer, I won’t just put her on every song with me simply because she’s my wife. She has to work very hard for what she wants.”
D-Naff’s latest album is due for release some time this month and will feature production from outside the country.
