Where Are They Now?

Back in the day when the music industry just started flourishing, there were a number of musicians who made headlines and shone like stars. A few years down the line and they’re nowhere to be found.

We can’t but wonder what happened?

While some artists entered the music scene with a bang and had an instant following – at a time when Namibians were still warming to the idea of actually listening to and appreciating local music – a number of artists have been celebrating a decade and more in the industry. While they are still going as strong as they were when they first started, others have grown bigger and better and are now embarking on the international stage.

However, there are those who’ve either lost their momentum or simply just lost that certain thing that made them shine back then. Others will be remembered as classic one-hit-wonders.

Songs like ‘Sweety My Baby’ by Namibian artist Brakes were instant hits, getting immense airplay on both radio and television and over 7 000 views on YouTube. That was six years ago. Today music lovers and fans were left wondering ‘what ever happened to Brakes?’.

Patlam Na Zella also released the hit ‘Aim’ that even had the older generation singing along. Check on them today and their Facebook page was last updated in 2012.

The Weekender looked up some of these artists to get lowdown on where they are now…

Kavax

Having gotten into the music industry almost a decade ago, Kavax, real name Lewis Kavaamwa Kapofi, had a somewhat ‘on and off’ music career. While he has four albums under his belt, he last featured on the musical scene two years ago.

Kavax says he’s taken a break from music to concentrate on obtaining his degree in accounting and finance. “I wanted to first build my wealth. And I managed to buy two houses and a complex in Otjomuise.”

He has been working as a financial manager in Windhoek for the past eight years and even though he’s taken this break from music, his passion for the art would not let him give up it completely. He is currently working on his fifth album, which he’s hoping to release in October.

He feels that since he has now reached certain goals he had set for himself, he will definitely be able to give his music the full attention it deserves.

Berthold

The R B genre could not be discussed without mentioning Berthold, who lent a sauve and smooth R B sound to many hit songs. Although he’s managed to release an album, Berthold seems to have gone off the radar of late, leaving fans and music lovers wondering when the next album will be released.

He says that within the five years he has been ‘sort of absent’, he has been writing music for other artists, doing charity work and just finding himself.

“Doing the same thing became boring so I wanted to try my skills at producing.”

He added that the loss of artists like Roger, Eclipse and Catty Cat has affected him deeply, and has contributed to his absence from the music scene.

When asked whether he ever thought of quitting, Berthold chose to answer the question with a ‘maybe’.

“Because of the system not being in place and a lack of recognition, quitting was a maybe. As much as people think I am just a flavour in the industry, I am actually just passionate,” he said.

He says he’s currently working on an album which is also scheduled for an October release.

“Somebody came through and sort of rescued Berthold,” he said.

Mekox

The ‘Dana Nasho’ hit maker Mekox, real name Mekondjo Kanana, last released music in 2013 and although he’s gone a bit silent in the music world, he’s been active in Namibia’s business circles.

His company Galaxy Advertising has become a household name in the printing industry, showing that Mekox is more than just an artist but actually a businessman of note too.

Mekox says he initially pursued music not because of his passion for it alone, but for business purposes also.

Being hugely affected by piracy and with advances in technology making it easy for people to get music without actually purchasing albums, Mekox saw that he had to find another way to make money as an artist. He decided to sell his album along with a printed t-shirt and this was his introduction to the printing industry.

Although he has not been focusing on music as much recently, he’s adamant that he hasn’t quit and will continue on that path especially now that he has no financial constraints to hold him back. For him, there will never be a time when he’s forced to choose between his business and his music career.

“If music was borrowed to me I would let it go but music is in me so there is no way I can give up on it.”

Get Rich or Die Trying

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