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Chanting Warrior inspired by Ancestors

Jacques Mushaanja, the Bantu Chanting Warrior aims to heal and transform his audiences through his art.

Jacques Mushaanja, the Bantu Chanting Warrior aims to heal and transform his audiences through his art.

Jacques Mushaandja, theatremaker, storyteller and vocalist is an artist with a vision. His vision is to heal and transform the nation through arts.
During his studies, Mushaandja who has a masters degree in Performing Arts and Media Studies from the University of Namibia, realised that his ancestors play a very big role in his life and that he comes from a great people. His ancestors inspire him artistically to make a difference in society and for his audiences to question facts and issues and not just accept everything that is bombard upon them. “I have realised that my Namibian audiences do not question and discuss issues that I have raised, they are too afraid and complacent and this defies the purpose of my work” said Mushaandja.

He said that he is influenced by life, the experiences that he has been through and the knowledge that he has gained from those experiences. “I am just a man from Katutura and everything I do is from Katutura with love, and I want people in Katutura to realise we are not from there, I am a nomad and I should be allowed to go where ever I want, like my ancestors did.” His favourite work so far is the song Kapanda, and legend has it that Kapanda disappeared while playing drums into a tree and when people go to that tree they can still hear the drum beat. Mushaandja said his favourite artists are Fella Khuti, Busi Mhlongo and locally Jackson Kaujeeua and Tate Kwela, and that he wants to make music that will heal this nation to be able to sing songs together no matter which tribe they are. “Namibia has not healed yet, there are still issues that we just sweep under the rug which we should deal with” concluded Mushaandja.
He is currently in talks with the Ministry of Safety and Security so that he and his team may be able to work with prisoners in the process of rehabilitation.

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