Ras Hans Sheehama used to call me “the philosopher”. But as I sit down with a heavy heart to write this tribute, I must state clearly: he was the true philosopher, not me.
In Ras, Namibia had a voice of reason, of truth, of conscience. In losing him, we have lost far more than just a reggae musician.
We have lost a national thinker, a man whose songs were full of wisdom, questions, and warnings about the kind of society we are building.
Ras will be laid to rest on 20 September.
It’s a sad moment, but it is also a time to reflect on what he gave us – and what he stood for.
His music was not ordinary. His lyrics were never just to entertain or to fill airwaves. Every song was a message. Every word had meaning.
THE SYSTEM IS A PUSH AND PULL
Ras studied our society with his heart, and spoke back to it through his music.
His song ‘The System is a Push and Pull’ is a perfect example.
He captured the daily struggle of ordinary Namibians. He understood the frustrations of trying to move forward in a system that sometimes lifts you up only to pull you back down.
That song is not just reggae, it’s a commentary on governance, on policy, on inequality, on unemployment, and on the fight between hope and hardship in our communities.
Then there’s ‘Inotila’. That song alone could be taught in schools and universities.
It challenges us to look beyond what is shown on the surface.
It asks: what is really going on in our country? Who is really benefiting from independence? Who is speaking for the poor?
Ras didn’t pretend things were fine.
He wasn’t afraid to ask uncomfortable questions. More importantly, he wasn’t afraid to give uncomfortable answers.
In ‘City Young Girl’ he touched on issues often ignored. A young woman caught in the chaos of city life, searching for love, identity, purpose.
But this song was never just about one girl.
It was about lost youth. It was about a generation being raised without guidance, without protection.
Ras reminded us that when we fail to protect our children, we fail as a nation.
MEMORY AND JUSTICE
And who can forget ‘Tudimbulukeni Cassinga?’
That song takes us back to the pain and sacrifice of our liberation.
Ras carried history in his voice. He reminded us to remember, to respect and to honour.
While others moved on, Ras made sure the past remained alive – not to divide, but to teach. He knew that without memory, there can be no justice.
That’s why I say again: Ras was the true philosopher.
He didn’t need a classroom or a podium. He didn’t write academic papers or hold government positions.
But his music carried more value than many speeches, academic papers or policies.
His music carried the heartbeat of a nation. It asked us all to do better – to be fairer, braver, and more united.
Ras Hans Sheehama deserves an honorary doctorate, something our institutions of higher learning failed to notice.
Not just because he was talented but because he was a teacher (murongi) to the nation.
He deserves hero status too: he stood for the people, and he stood up to the system when it wasn’t doing enough.
A LASTING LEGACY
Ras called out poverty. He spoke for the voiceless. He demanded action where many stayed silent.
Through his music, he fought for a more equal, more just, and more inclusive Namibia, the Namibia we want.
He dreamed of a country where no child goes to bed hungry. Where every voice is heard, no matter how small.
Where leaders are servants of the people, not masters. Where music is not just background noise but a tool for social change.
Ras held up a mirror to society and asked us, “Do you like what you see?”
He challenged us to do more, to care more, to build better.
He was not motivated by fame or riches. He lived simply, but he thought deeply.
He stayed true to his roots, to his beliefs, and to his people.
In a world that often rewards pretenders, Ras remained real. That’s why his legacy will last.
LET’S KEEP PUSHING
As we prepare to say goodbye to this great son of the soil, let’s not bury his message with his body.
Let’s keep playing his songs. More than that, let’s live the values he sang about.
Let’s honour him not just with words but with action.
Let’s keep pushing for the Namibia he dreamed of – one where justice, dignity and equality are not slogans, but realities.
Rest in peace, Rastaman, the true philosopher of our time.
You read Namibia clearly, and you loved it enough to speak truth to it.
Your music was your lecture. Your songs were your protests. Your voice was your legacy. And that legacy will never die.
- Ndumba Kamwanyah (PhD) is a public policy expert, focusing on the interplay of social welfare policy, development and democracy. He is also a peace and reconciliation scholar and has a master’s degree in conflict studies.
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