Everything Takes Time and My Time Is Now – Shax Champion

Teen sensation Andreas Shipanga, popularly known as Shax Champion, is one upcoming artist whose stardom is rising rapidly.

The Ondangwa-born musician, who was raised at Lüderitz, is one of the busiest artists in the country.

Ever since he dropped his debut hit single ‘Soos ’n Dier’ in June last year, the former choir singer has been busy, with hardly any weekends off.
Shax explains: “Honestly speaking, when I started this journey, I did not expect success to come so soon. It is really hard to come to terms with the fact that an experimental project gripped the imagination of almost the entire nation. I am really honoured.

“It is unbelievable that only a couple of years ago, I was still singing bass in the school choir at Angra Pequena Senior Secondary School, as well as the Lüderitz Youth Choir. I am actually a product of choral music. It is where I shaped the voice people know today.”

Apart from choir singing, Shax explored hip-hop music, shaping his skills by freestyling to well-known hits.

He impressed friends and people from Lüderitz, who then advised him to consider a career in music.

“I actually have a cousin TJ who, apart from being an outstanding hip-hop artist, is also an exceptional producer. I asked him to create a beat from the song I have written, which was ‘Soos ’n Dier’ and the rest, as they say, is history,” Shax says.

“Although I was taken aback by my early success, I am not completely surprised, because I think that being unique really propelled my popularity with Namibian music fans. My popularity has been growing ever since and I am happy with where I am now.”

The amapiano star is managed by renowned businessman, music producer and artist manager Desmond ‘Birdie’ Shipanga, who has managed artists like Gazza and The Dogg in the past.

Now riding on the success of his latest hit, ‘Uh Haa’, Shax has been in the studio, staying relevant in the industry with other strong hits like ‘Gemors’, ‘On My Chest’, ‘Kop Pyne’ and now ‘ICU’.

“I am really enjoying this game. My popularity is measured by the fact that I was not able to have time for myself lately, especially during weekends, because it has just been gig after gig. At one point during the festive season, I was booked for five gigs the same weekend,” he says.

“I started at La Vine Lounge at Walvis Bay on the Friday night. The Saturday gigs were at Sepia Bar & Gambling House at Oshikango. I then had a show at Club Ace at Ongwediva, and two more gigs at Ondangwa, which is my birthplace.”

The first show was at the Static House of Ballers, while the second show was at the Kalawafresh Festival at Oniipa.

Shax, who had his first big gig at Rosh Pinah – which he describes as a fun experience – says he is very comfortable performing, as his choral background gave him the confidence to perform in front of large crowds.

The one-time award winner with the Lüderitz Youth Choir says he wants to be remembered as ‘Die Yster’ (Afrikaans slang for great or awesome), or the guy who arrived from nowhere and made dust.

He adds that he is confident that success is imminent.

A proud winner of song of the year at the 2025 MTC Namibia Content Creator Awards for ‘On My Chest’, which has now surpassed over two million views on YouTube, Shax says this is his moment.

“Everything takes time and my time is now,” he says.

The full-time musician says a normal day starts with him working on his vocal cords, which is something he learned during his choral years.

“I have to make sure that my voice is always on point,” he says.

He says he does not have a specific musician who influenced his music career, but he was inspired by his former conductor at Lüderitz, Mario.

“Mario had a huge influence on me. Ironically, my favourite musician growing up is also a choir conductor, Cedric Howoseb. He is one of the finest composers around,” Shax says.

“I like most of his songs because Cedric is a brilliant composer. I do have a favourite song and it is ‘Deeper’ featuring Melo & Masterblaq. I don’t listen to a specific artist, and I like broadening my horizons and consuming any little finer detail I can pick up.”

Shax believes Namibia has a lot of talent.

He is urging his colleagues in the industry to be unique and to stop copying South African and other popular international artists.

“The other music industries are growing because the music creators are coming up with new ideas and concepts. You can do kwaito, house, hip-op or amapiano, but just come up with your own style. People like uniqueness because it is new and fresh,” he advises.

“Being a musician is nice because it gives you instant fame, and there is also the monetary reward that comes with it. Young people should feel free to join the industry, but they must first finish their school. If their music career fails, they should fall back on their education.”

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