Mutjangatjike Ben Muundjua, better known as ‘Mutjanga Bena’, is the hottest thing in Namibian oviritje music right now.
Born and raised at the village Otjinene, about 160 kilometres north of Gobabis in the Omaheke region, the multiple award winner isn’t just a star.
Many call him the crown prince of oviritje.
His journey started with raw, powerful a cappella and later on as the frontman of the dynamic Upambians group.
But Mutjanga wanted more. Driven by a hunger for authenticity and artistic growth, he stepped out of Upambians on his own.
His success is not just his own; his music is the sound of a healthy community of Otjiherero-speaking people – proud, united and culturally rooted from Aminuis to Opuwo, from Okahandja to Otjinene.
When Mutjanga sings, Ouhona sings with him.
“I’m a very thorough person both in life and in my craft. When I drop a song, I make sure it has all the elements of a hit song,” he says.
“Also, I also like authenticity. That is why I sound a little different from all the other artists in the oviritje genre. I always strive to sound unique because I am my own man.”
Mutjanga says it’s not worth becoming a musician who sounds like everyone else.
“When people hear my song playing, they should already know it’s me because of my voice and the uniqueness of my style.”
His music career was a decision that didn’t go down well with his parents, he says.
‘UNSTOPPABLE’
“Music and I are inseparable. I mean, we are intertwined. There is absolutely nothing in this world that will make me stop doing music, because singing is my lifestyle,” he says.
“I draw so much pleasure from standing on top of a stage and seeing the happy faces of my fans when they watch me perform. I can relate with them because music excites me too.”
Realising he could not grow as a musician at his home village, Mutjanga moved to Windhoek, where he joined a band known as Wagon.
Like any young musician of his era, the outspoken singer also had people he idolised as an emerging singer.
“I was deeply inspired by the music of people like Jackson Kaujeua Sr and Willie Mbuende, who are no longer among us. May their souls continue to rest in peace,” Mutjanga says.
“Of course, their music style differs completely from what we are doing today. However, they laid the foundations on which we stand today. Eric Mahua was another idol.”
‘THE GOOD AND THE BAD’
Mutjanga, who started singing in 1999, says his songs comprise all the elements of life – good and bad.
“My first priority is to entertain and to make people laugh, and when they cry, it must be tears of joy,” he says.
“I’m singing about life and what is generally happening in the world. It means I’m singing about the realities of life, meaning my storytelling is true and relevant.”
The former best oviritje artist of year, an accolade he was accorded at the Namibian Annual Music Awards, dropped his solo debut album in 2003.
He points out that he spent almost five years living and performing at Outapi in the Omusati region, between 2003 and 2008.
Mutjanga released various studio albums and tracks, including popular songs like ‘Komahi Uozonganda’ (from the album ‘Vejamba Une’), ‘Vandu Vandje’ and ‘Okakarara Mba’.
“I’m happy that I’ve performed at almost every big event, be it a music festival or national event like Namibian Independence Day celebrations,” he says.
“I’m lucky that the event organisers and music promoters always think of me.”
Mutjanga has taken his talent beyond the African continent to Canada twice, while he has also wowed audiences in the United Kingdom.
He has become a star attraction in neighbouring Botswana, where there is also a healthy community of Ovaherero and Ovambanderu people.
“It will be the umpteenth time I will be performing in Botswana. I’ve been going there since 2010. This time, I’ve been invited over for Botswana’s independence celebrations from 29 September 29 until 3 October,” Mutjanga says.
He says he is a proud one-time best artist award winner – an accolade he was granted by the Mbanderu community in Botswana.
Lastly, Mutjanga calls for a unified artists union for Namibian musicians.
“Right now, we are too divided, and the situation cries for a collective voice. Show promoters and event managers are still operating on tribalism and friendship,” he says.
“The ma/gaisa and oviritje artists deserve respect in this country because they are doing something authentic and unique, and their music isn’t inherited from the South African kwaito, house and amapiano sounds.”
