Tremaine Aldon Neverson!

Sometime late in 2012, I was standing at an office in Windhoek West talking about American rapper Eve coming to Namibia. I remember telling one of the organisers that I really just want to see Trey Songz in Namibia.

I remember pestering people for the past three years about getting Trigga here and I distinctly remember telling people on 24 September, after a splendid P-Square show, that I really just want to see Trey Songz in Namibia.

On Monday, 23 March, MTC announced that Tremaine Aldon Neverson is going to be in the country on 30 May and I am patiently waiting, counting down the days. After having to take the rest of the day off because I just could not function or think straight, I had to constantly remind myself that it wasn’t just one of my dreams – and believe me, they are many – it was actually happening. Trey Songz is coming to Namibia!

When I woke up the next day, I had to go to social networks just to confirm that I was not dreaming. Yes, I am dead serious.

With the fanatic in me put aside and with more announcements of international artists coming to our beautiful country to entertain us, I must say that all the years of having to travel to South Africa to see our favourite international artists are over. Last year we had Hillsong South Africa here and they gave us two nights of praise and worship that filled the Namibian atmosphere with praises that gave many of us goosebumps. Then we had P-Square and we all know how that went. And now we have R and B man of the moment making his way to us, to me!

I know and understand the work that goes into bringing these musical greats to our country especially because not many know of this beautiful jewel of Africa, even though we are just situated next to South Africa. For someone as big as Trey Songz to come to Namibia, there was a lot of convincing that needed to be done. Our entire population is what some of these artists perform in front of in three days of touring. For an artist as big as this heartthrob, there are many things management has to consider before saying yes and booking the act for our country.

It is because of this reason that I applaud and thank the organisers for their effort. They could have given up if they did not get a yes the first time or the second or the third, I applaud them for having the spirit and endurance that is needed in such an industry, because many people who cannot afford to ever see their favourite artists perform live in the States or any other country, now have that opportunity right here at home.

The corporate world jumping in and contributing to the entertainment industry for our leisure, this I also applaud. Trey Songz coming to Namibia goes far beyond just another international act coming to perform in our country, it is helping the entertainment industry in building a certain prestige and making it easier to approach all these big artists and inviting them to perform in our country.

P-Square, Trey Songz, Eve, Hillsong South Africa and UB40 form part of a reference list which makes it easier to get other acts here to entertain our people.

Apart from that, it decentralises our industry and creates ample opportunities for our sound to be carried beyond borders and beyond oceans. Opportunities are created for collaborations, opportunities are created for our industry to be talked about on a worldwide platform, sparking interest and an ocean of possibilities.

As for me, I have been wanting this since 2012 and I am a counting down the minutes until Tremaine Aldon Neverson, my Trey Songz, touches down in the Land of the Brave, until then I will keep calm and wait.

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