Oviritje singer and performer Penaani Kauandenge, better known as Pen-K, describes himself as a go-getter and a perfectionist.
He says he joined the music industry when he was six years old, inspired by his parents, who were professional singers at the time.
Pen-K’s mother is Meisie Henguva, a pioneer of Oviritje music who was known as member of the group Minora United.
Pen-K says his mother is an accomplished and well-known vocalist who contributed much to his passion for music.
His father is a local politician and Oviritje singer, Josef Kauandenge.
Pen-K says as his father grows older, he is proving to be a fine musician.
“So I grew up in a household where both my parents were singers,” he says.
He sais his father is his pillar of strength.
Pen-K says he has produced countless songs over the years.
One of his most popular songs is ‘Katjomasa’, produced by Blenge Ndjavera, which was released four years ago.
Among his tracks are also ‘Otjimuinjo’ and ‘Oka Life Kandje’, also produced by Ndjavera.
Pen-K says he recently teamed up with TopCheri to record the song ‘Wakiti Talkiti,’ produced by Andrew Studios.
He says the song is enjoying massive play on social media.
He has also released ‘Mbeya’, complemented by a music video produced by the late Arafat.
“I think the biggest problem for any child with well-known parents is that people often compare you to your parents.
“You have to get out of your parents’ shadow and prove you are a good singer and that you can deliver masterpieces as well,” Pen-K says.
He says people did not always take him seriously as a musician, especially his own community, Otjiherero-speaking Namibians.
“I have proven them wrong and have established myself as a good singer and performer as well,” he says.
Pen-K says he performed with his mother in Botswana a week ago as part of that country’s independence celebrations.
“I was really astonished by the crowd as they sang along to some of my songs. This gave me much-needed confidence to be able to say say I’m now an international artist as well,” he says.
The singer was also selected by the organisers of Amonro Events and Zambian National Talents and Sports to perform at an event in Kabwe, Zambia.
The event is set to take place on 28 October.
“The way I was selected was interesting, as I just posted my song while doing an a capella on Tik Tok. One of the organisers saw me and contacted me to go perform there.
“This is an annual event in Zambia where young people converge, share ideas and have fun. Hopefully my performance in Zambia will open many other doors for me as an artist, as there will also be big names from Nigeria and South Africa performing at the event.”
Pen-K says his current projects include shooting quality music videos.
“I’m really discouraged from producing albums, because in Namibia they don’t sell as well as they used to. Technology has taken over, and people nowadays just make copies of your music, put them on a USB and then circulate them, so you don’t really get a return on your investment.
“That is why even established artists don’t produce albums any more. I prefer to release singles only.”
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