After four long years, Namibia’s internationally-acclaimed superstar, Elemotho Mosimane, is finally coming home.
The guitar-strumming storyteller will take the stage at the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) on Saturday for his first Namibian show since 2022.
Now based in East Africa, Mosimane says this homecoming will be more intimate and intentional.
“I know my fans expect a high-octane set,” he says. “But we’re no longer the same energetic people we were. Besides, we must respect the venue. The NTN calls for a laid-back audience.”
Speaking to The Namibian from East Africa, the former physiology and psychology student at the University of Namibia says he wants people to do something rare at an Elemotho show: sit down, listen and hear the message.
“People got used to my dancing more than my lyrics,” he says. “This time, I want you to hear my acoustic guitar and my voice.”
The ‘Gandja in Okahandja’ hitmaker says his return home is not permanent but only to perform at a concert, adding that he did not leave Namibia on bad terms.
“My immediate future is away from home and with my family. I am more of a family man now, which is something I neglected a lot during my heavily active days,” he notes.
“Expect a mix of new songs and my old favourites. It was four years of a quieter life, focused on my family. I have also used the time to write news songs and do other stuff.”
Mosimane, who was raised in the Sandveld and Kalahari in eastern Namibia, says his fans must look forward to a more mature performance.
“It is not going to be the usual high-octane and leg kicking stuff. Of course, I am no longer the youthful Elemotho who used to jump and run around the stage,” he explains.
“Also, staging a show in the NTN auditorium is not the same as hosting a live concert at the Warehouse. They are two different settings and I am going to be a bit more gentle.”
The artist, who gave Namibia songs such as ‘Kena Ko’, ‘The System is a Joke’, ‘Politics Of The Belly’, ‘My Africa’, and ‘Beautiful World’, says he cannot rule out the possibility that he may raise the tempo a little bit on the night.
“Everybody knows that I like and enjoy a good performance,” he says. “The energy is still there and I can still perform at full blast. But as a seasoned performer, you have to honour that it is a sitted space.
“The slight change from my usual self means I am singing and playing better. The people are coming to watch me perform. They can’t obviously not dance in an auditorium. I am backed by top-notch band of musicians.”
The music star, who used to thrill crowds in places like the Czech Republic, Germany, France, Senegal, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa and Lesotho (his home until recently), says the body also needs some rest.
He says it was fun to have a mix of a high energy performance and powerful singing because his age allowed that.
“Like it is the case with any other artists, life has also caught up with me a little, but the love and enthusiasm for the craft has never lessened one bit,” Mosimane says.
“There is a wave of a new generation of musicians entering the playground, both locally and internationally. They need our advice and guidance,”
He says he took a break from touring and performing after his last performance in Namibia in 2022.
He remains the only Namibian to have won the RFI-France 24 Discoveries Music Award in Paris in 2012.
He is also a proud winner of the best world music/global fusion album of the year at the United Kingdom’s One World Music Awards in 2018 for his album ‘Beautiful World’.
Mosimane’s creative talent didn’t go unnoticed as he was a proud recipient of the lifetime achievement award at the 2017 Namibian Annual Music Awards.
Also known as ‘The New Sound of the Kalahari’, Mosimane boasts four albums behind his name.
He says his time away from home gave him an opportunity to reflect more on his personal life.
“I just realised that I spent more time away from home chasing fame in countries far away from the people that matter the most, which is my beautiful family,” Mosimane says.
“But I always knew that there was a time that I had to slow down a little bit and strengthen my bond with my family as a father. Being away from home strengthened the family bond.”
Mosimane, who will be backed up by the same guys he has worked with before, will have two supporting acts – The Ells and Livinge.
The Ells are described as a feel-good fraternity.
The new kids on the block have thrilled audiences with their popular hits like ‘Sound Of Summer’, ‘The Highway’, ‘Guppie Song’, and ‘Cool Kids’.
Meanwhile, Livinge is a talented songstress, songwriter, and creative storyteller from Swakopmund.
She is known for her soulful music and collaborative projects, such as showcasing Namibia’s beauty with Gondwana Collection Namibia and frequently performing live at events at the NTN.
Early-bird tickets were priced at N$250 until 20 August and now cost N$300
