The Colourful Kalux

Colourful and lively, Otjiwarongo-based artist Saggarias ‘Kalux’ Karunga is a true entertainer.

Originally hailing from the small town of Outjo in the Kunene region, Kalux lived in a location called Poepoe where he first attended primary school. Kalux moved to the Damara location when he was in Grade 2 and that is where the music bug bit.

The aunty who looked after him when he was a little boy had a drummer for a husband, and every moment he could, a young and curious Kalux would sneak off to play on the drum set.

After his father was relocated to Otjiwarongo, Kalux, who just passed Grade 3, moved as well and stayed in the DRC location – where he lives to this day.

Before he embraced his talents as a musician, he dabbled in another section of entertainment, at least for a little while.

At Otjiwarongo, the artist met a few friends with whom he had a lot in common, specifically dancing.

“We formed a group of three dancers and would always dance for the other children after school for 50 cents or packets of Nik Naks,” he said laughing. “Later we decided to make it a Friday special, and if one of the teachers was not in school, we would steal their classroom and charge pupils to watch us dance,” Kalux remembered.

When Kalux moved on to Otjiwarongo High School, the seeds of his music career began to germinate. “A man in our location played the piano and one day he needed an Oshiwambo singer. Since I can speak the language, he asked me if I could sing for him. I told him I’m not a good singer, but later sang a song for him. He liked it, told me I was good and that he has some friends who have a studio. I went to meet them. I also sang for them, they liked me and shortly after we formed a three-man group called Magingoz,” he recalled.

After that, Kalux started his solo career. That was in 2015 and he hasn’t looked back since. In fact he even walked away with the Best Newcomer Award at the Namibian Annual Music Awards (NAMAs) with his debut album ‘Superstar’.

The ‘Netira’ and ‘Nxa Gute’ singer draws inspiration from his surroundings like ‘Blikkiesdorp’ where he lives, and it manifests in his music.

“I stay with a lot of different people with different stories and different influences. My music is like different chapters. My first albums were more about love. This time I want my album to be about love, inspiration and entertainment. I learn a lot, I hear different stories and I put that in my music,” Kalux explained.

As a multilingual artist, Kalux speaks six languages – English, Afrikaans, Oshiwambo, Khoekhoegowab, Otjiherero and Kavango.

“It’s so funny, because in Outjo, I stayed in the Damara location and attended a Damara primary school and I picked up the language there. In Otjiwarongo, I attended a Herero school but a lot of my friends were Kavango. I used to play soccer with them and hung out with them a lot, and this is how learnt Kavango,” he explained.

It is this colourful background and mishmash of cultural influences which have merged to create a dynamic and exciting artist.

“I get confused about what my parents are,” Kalux said jokingly. Explaining that his mother is half Himba and half Damara, while his father is half Owambo and half Angolan. “But they say you take your mother’s side. I really don’t know what I am, I am just a Namibian,” he said.

“For me culture is everything. If you don’t know your culture, you don’t know yourself. I believe in all cultures, whether it is Owambo, Herero or Damara. If you watch my music videos, I always incorporate culture,” said Kalux while pointing out that the music video for his track ‘Netira’ heavily features the Tswana culture.

“My plans for the future are to continue making good music and doing good business. I want to build the Kalux brand into a big business,” said the artist who aspires to have his music celebrated not only locally but hopes it transcends borders too. “I want to make music for the world and travel to different countries,” he concluded.

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