‘Damaloki’ Is More Than Music – Damara Dikding

Singer-songwriter, composer and record producer Arthur /Nanub, better known as ‘Damara Dikding’, is channeling his lack of inspiration and “toxic behaviour” into his latest music project, titled ‘The Damaloki Project’.

The project is aimed at promoting unity, he says.

Dikding says it is much more than music – it is also a statement to promote patriotism and restore national pride.

‘The Damaloki Project’ is the artist’s third album, and was recently launched at the Avani Windhoek Hotel and Casino in association with Namibian music platform donluafrica and Chess Records.

“It’s sad, but it is true that I have not been inspired to make music in a while. I’ve noticed that we influence each other with a lot of toxic behaviour, and we try to normalise it. It’s not good for us, our children or the next generation. At some point reality always kicks in,” he says.

Dikding has apologised to his followers for the delay in making the album.

“The album was supposed to be released already before Covid hit the world, so we had numerous delays. The album is my personal mission to encourage the nation to save ourselves from ourselves. It’s time to address things head-on and realise being ‘Namibian’ is not a certain tribe, but a mentality,” he says.

Dikding says his latest offering is great entertainment and he is convinced that everybody would be able to relate to it.

“The project represents support for Namibian products. The encouragement of endorsing our own, and I’m not just referring to music, but all industries as a whole, to simply consume our own. It really doesn’t make sense to consume 70% of everything foreign and expect balance.

“With this album, I am basically telling the public we have a unique country with unique problems, and need unique solutions. This can only be accomplished if we embrace ourselves and realise being Namibian is not a tribe, but a mentality. We’ve got homework,” he says.

Dikding says fans should not be scared of change.

He says the album is about reinvention and appreciating who he is and where he comes from.

“I have a few people who believe in the cause and support the vision, and it’s very encouraging. I’m ready to serve. I’m very worried and want to teach self-sustainability, because all we have been taught is to just consume, but nobody is mentoring. I think I can reach people with my music and influence them in ways others can’t,” he says.

Speaking about his experience in the music industry over the years, he says he is not pleased about the fact that artists are underpaid.

“There is something that broke my heart: In The Namibian I saw an article stating Nascam has paid a member 78 cents. It’s disrespectful, embarrassing and degrading. I’m not pointing fingers, but it’s obvious the current system is failing artists, and we need to migrate to another platform.

“I mean they only work and pay out once a year, so we don’t need to fund it the whole year. We can cut costs and treat each and every artist with dignity,” he says.

Apart from his new album, Dikding says he is currently working on two social responsibility projects.

Fans can follow him on social media for more.

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