World Music Day explodes in four cities
Namibia is celebrating World Music Day on Saturday, 21 June 2014. Concerts will be hosted in Windhoek, Swakopmund, Keetmanshoop and Ongwediva, with close to 120 groups or solo artists performing. As usual on World Music Day, all artists have undertaken to perform for free, and all concerts are free for the public.
Windhoek will be hosting two concerts this year to accommodate an ever increasing number of artists who want to perform, but also to cater for the cold winter nights. During the day from 10am to no later than 6pm the action will happen at the Palmtree Park next to the train station in Bahnhof Street. From 8pm in the evening the music will continue at the Warehouse Theatre with live acts including Hip Hop star Wambuseun, Afro-Pop artist Patricia, Reggae-man Ngatu and the Formula Band, as well as Indie musician TONETiC and NAMA 2014 Female Artist of the Year, Erna Chimu. In line with previous years, at the Windhoek concerts, all performances will be live while the other towns will also accommodate acts with backing tracks.
Swakopmund’s concert will take place at the Amphitheatre from 11am to 7pm. In Keetmanshoop activities start at 10am at the Multi-Purpose Youth Centre; and in Ongwediva events kick off at 9am at the Maroela Mall, ending at around 5pm. A detailed programme for each town can be downloaded at www.fncc.org.na .
This year marks the 19th anniversary of World Music Day in Namibia. The tradition of celebrating a day of music on 21 June, the day of summer solstice in the Northern hemisphere, started some 33 years ago in France and has since spread to all corners of the world. The event is facilitated by the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre with the support of dbAudio, Areva, Total Namibia, Base FM and West Coast FM.
Ongwediva boasts the most extensive line-up of stars and hopefuls. Starting at 12:00, the following artists are clamouring to entertain the audience: Chilas (Kwaito), Boet (Kwaito), Ndexland Production (Kwaito), Brave Man (Kwaito), Under Pressure (Kwaito), 2 Touch Group (Kwaito), Mannete (Kwaito), Goodlife (Kwaito), Venellito Pluto (Gospel), M. Zeer (Gospel & Traditional), Nginyemata (Traditional & Kwaito), World Sound & Power (Traditional & Reggae), JPG4G (Solo), Kondolos Boem Fire, Bieskop (Kwaito & Kwiku), Asser Nashilongo (Kwaito & Kwasa Kwasa), Fresh Family (Kwaito & House), Chakalas (Hip Hop & Kwaito), Mbuku (House), Bola (Kwaito), MP3 for Life (House), High Def (Dancing), Painkillers (Kwaito), Ludex Kalunde (Kwasa Kwasa), Zulla (House), DJ Omzala (Kwiku), Amadocta (Kwaito), Chella Boy (Kwiku), Nakale Ya Nakale (Gospel & House), Young Peace (Kwaito), Amazokies (Kwaito, Hip Hop), B.T. Squad (Kwaito), Killer Stars (Kwaito & House), Lungstar Entertainment (Kwaito & House), Zexx (Kwaito), Mr. Bullet (Gospel, Hip Hop & Kwaito), Mauru Fresh (Kwaito), B-Fresh the Godfather (Kwaito), Buju Katjoko (Ragga Dance Hall), Omtuu (Afro Pop), Big Miles (R&B), Balulo (Reggae), Dare Devil (Hip Hop), Stoffy (Gospel), Brother Thobias (Gospel), Vision Boy (Afro Pop), Msheka Family (Traditional), Full Force (Kwaito), Two Touch 2 Touch (Kwaito), Pax Boy (Kwaito), World Sound (Reggae) and Living Water (Gospel).
