KCAC starts TV, radio and recording studios

AIMED at inspiring the senses, the Katutura Community Arts Centre (KCAC) located in Windhoek, has taken steps to improve their services.

The centre, which used to be a kitchen and mess hall for mostly Omwambo workers from the north, is now home to the College of the Arts’ (COTA) Katutura campus and the John Muafangejo Art Centre (JMAC) and gallery.

The KCAC recently launched an online TV and radio studio, along with a recording studio. Veteran producer Elvo Diergaardt is a lecturer at the recording studio. He decided to be part of the initiative because he believes in innovation and wants to help better the industry.

Diergaardt has been teaching for the last decade and believes that good music and talent must be shared with others.

“I enjoy sharing what I know as I believe it will be very productive for Namibia. I believe in sharing knowledge before it dies,” he said.

Students or musicians who are registered with the Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music (Nascam) can make use of the studios.

Diergaardt believes the initiative is exciting because it is also open to the public. The idea is to offer talented Namibians a chance to record their music in a high quality environment.

“Good quality music is something that many artists in Namibia are struggling with. Many of them don’t know what quality is, or how the industry works. I am glad to teach because many often enter the industry without any knowledge. Knowing how the industry works can greatly improve anyone’s success. I am here to teach them at an affordable price, because to record music is very expensive.”

Radio lecturer and well known musician, Shilongo Peuyavali Ashipala – better known as Kanibal, said the studio was introduced to give third year students practical experience before they finish their course.

“We have noticed that many don’t have any real experience of how a studio works. This is a huge contributing factor to them struggling to find employment. It is exciting because each year there will be new voices and fresh talent,” Ashipala said.

He fears for the future of radio, especially music stations because of the constant advancements in technology.

“People can easily download a song, from any where and at any time,” Ashipala said.

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