NKO pays tribute to late singer and dancer

Nakapandi Koikuti Onghwalukuwa (NKO), a musical and cultural troupe based at Okahandja, was founded by Victor Nakapandi in 2012.

The vision of the troupe was to promote Namibian and African identity as best they could.

In 2022, NKO lost a founder and member of the troupe, Tulongeni Lucas, better known as Kashima.

Nakapandi says Tulongeni was one of the troupe’s best singers and dancers.

“She did a lot when it comes to promoting and preserving our culture and tradition in the Five Rand community, as well as for the country in general,” he says, adding that Lucas also played a crucial role in marketing and developing Five Rand Primary School.

Lucas loved children and the elderly, he says.

She was known as the unifier of the Five Rand community.

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To honour and continue her legacy, the troupe initiated the project ‘NKO Tulongeni and Children Care’ last year, with the aim of continuing to help the elderly, orphans and vulnerable children, and to continue uniting the Five Rand community.

Nakapandi says the troupe last year managed to gather used clothing to donate to community members.

“We managed to hand out more than 90 brand new blankets valued at N$22 000 that were donated by Oshimada Fishing.

“Apart from blankets, the project also threw a Christmas party for the elderly and children over the festive season. The Christmas party was made possible by Outspan Wholesale Okahandja, Peter Ndove, Pacon and Orange Babies Namibia.”

Nakapandi says apart from the elderly and children’s care project, they also have plans for other projects.

“One of the events we started with last year is the Miss NKO Tulongeni, and this year we will implement the NKO Tulongeni Expo and the NKO Tulongeni Sport Tournament,” he says.

Apart from direct donations, Nakapandi says the troupe also offers cultural dances.

In previous years, the troupe also initiated a centre at Five Rand settlement, which aims to promote different cultures by providing communities the opportunity to showcase their talents and exhibit their cultural and traditional artefacts at the centre.

“The centre is used to promote our Namibian norms and values.

“This is done through different activities, such as training people on different traditional dances. We also motivate and promote young musicians, as well as make music people can identify as Namibian music, such as Damara punch, shambo, oviritje, and many more,” Nakapandi says.