Namibian musician and hip-hop artist NGA-I is set to make a comeback with his new single, 'Thorota', his first major release since 3 March 2025. The track signals a confident return and a bold artistic statement from an artist who says growth, self-belief and craft are at the heart of his latest work. In an interview with Tjil, NGA-I spoke about his inspiration: “It was really inspiration itself. I draw from the music and the instrumental. The secret for me is taking it easy. I listen to what the beat is saying and put it into words." He describes the track as a personal reflection of his artistic evolution, rooted in his beginnings as a poet and emcee. While hip-hop and trap often emphasise competition, he says his mindset has changed over time.

Teen sensation Andreas Shipanga, popularly known as Shax Champion, is one upcoming artist whose stardom is rising rapidly. The Ondangwa-born musician, who was raised at Lüderitz, is one of the busiest artists in the country. Ever since he dropped his debut hit single ‘Soos ’n Dier’ in June last year, the former choir singer has been busy, with hardly any weekends off. Shax explains: “Honestly speaking, when I started this journey, I did not expect success to come so soon. It is really hard to come to terms with the fact that an experimental project gripped the imagination of almost the entire nation. I am really honoured. “It is unbelievable that only a couple of years ago, I was still singing bass in the school choir at Angra Pequena Senior Secondary School, as well as the Lüderitz Youth Choir. I am actually a product of choral music. It is where I shaped the voice people know today.”

Young African’s head coach Marley Ngarizemo has set the tone for a high-stakes weekend, admitting his side faces a stern test against KK Palace and Eeshoke Chula Chula, but insisted they are ready to rise to the occasion.  He described upcoming opponents KK Palace as one of the league’s strongest outfits, noting that despite recent coaching changes, they remain a formidable force.  He stressed that thorough preparation will be key if his team is to overcome them.  The coach acknowledged that they have endured a painful start to the campaign, losing their opening two matches — a setback he labelled one of the club’s worst runs in recent history. However, he believes the squad has begun to stabilise after grinding out a hard-fought draw against Tigers, a side he described as tough given their current form and standing.

Rising star Panduleni Gideon, popularly known as Ms Gideon, recently signed a full record contract deal with Sony Music Africa. The deal is in partnership with ERA Music Group. The Windhoek-based singer has also announced she will be releasing her first single under the label, titled ‘Tiki Tak Tak,’ on 27 February. Music In Africa, a pan-African online music platform music, reported yesterday that Ms Gideon remains the only Namibian artist with a direct recording contract under Sony Music Africa’s global roster, saying the deal marks a historic moment for the country’s music industry. Reports indicate that local singer Lize Ehlers had a digital distribution deal linked to Sony in 2012. “My dream has always been to represent Namibia with pride and show the world what young African voices can do,” Ms Gideon says. She says joining Sony Music Africa is a huge moment for every young girl in Namibia who dreams boldly.

A sparkling selection of the city’s women creators and creatives gathered at MultiChoice Namibia to honour Namibian women in film last week. Titled ‘EmpowerHer: A Celebration of Namibian Women in Film’, the event invited its trailblazing attendees to wear their most empowering suit to a soirée and film screening of film-maker Hildegard Titus’ ‘Die Rooftog’. “As the world celebrates International Women’s Month, the film and television industry is revealing itself as a powerful arena of gender transformation and a highly effective vehicle for empowering women,” says MultiChoice Namibia corporate affairs manager Elzita Beukes. “This is especially the case for Africa where women occupy several leadership roles in this industry. These roles are pivotal as they set the tone for the sector at large, influencing the content being created, as well as the attitudes of the young audiences exposed to the material within the film.”

Seven choirs out of 22 from across Namibia have been selected to compete in the upcoming Blended Voices Choral Competition, hosted by the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN). The event, which celebrates the fusion of choral traditions and contemporary Namibian music, will see choirs vying for the grand prize of N$50 000, a floating trophy, and additional awards for second and third place. The choirs set to showcase their talents on this grand platform are: Atjapekaravi (APV) – Windhoek Originally founded in 1989 as the St John’s Youth Choir, APV has grown into a dynamic and versatile choir, performing gospel, classical, and contemporary music. Known for their rich harmonies and uplifting performances, APV has previously competed in the Old Mutual Competition, proving their musical excellence.

For the first time in its history, the Miss Namibia and Miss Teen Namibia pageants will be hosted in northern Namibia, symbolising progress in the competition’s approach to inclusivity, cultural representation, and national unity. The Miss Namibia Organisation (MNO) has confirmed that the Oshana region will host the 2025 pageant, with the exact venue to be announced soon. A highlight of this year’s event is the appointment of Ondonga Queen Adelheid Nangolo as the official patron of Miss Namibia 2025. Her involvement represents the fast growing role of traditional leadership in national events and reinforces the pageant’s commitment to celebrating Namibia’s diverse heritage. MNO chief executive Umbi Karuaihe-Upi says the queen’s patronage represents the values of empowerment, culture and leadership that Miss Namibia stands for.

When Ariel Wayz first entered the music scene in 2020, her ambitions were clear — to make a mark in popular local genres like Afrobeats and pop. However, as she ages, the artiste continues to prove that she is capable of creating bold and innovative sounds that many local artistes have yet to explore. With experience, Ariel Wayz has shown that she is not just following trends—she is setting them. A former member of the Symphony Band and one of the standout products of Nyundo School of Music and Arts, Ariel Wayz has captured attention once again with her long-awaited debut album, ‘Hear to Stay.’ The 12-track project, which mostly features R&B sounds and was produced by some of the finest sound engineers and producers in Rwanda, is already becoming a sensation with music every generation can relate.

Global Dance Supreme Namibia has appointed Namibian dancer, choreographer and musician Stanley Mareka as its new assistant director. The academy announced that Mareka will play an important role in preparing Namibian dancers for the upcoming Global Dance Supreme Inter-Continental Dance and Battles championship finals, set for October in Cape Town, South Africa. “We are thrilled to welcome him to our team,” says Global Dance Supreme Namibia director Leah Gaeses.

Bank Windhoek has launched its Brand Song Remix Campaign Competition as part of a new campaign titled: ‘Is it possible to love a Bank?’ The competition aims to celebrate Namibian creativity by encouraging artists to rework the bank’s official brand song and engage the public through social media. According to Jacqueline Pack, Bank Windhoek’s marketing and corporate communication services executive officer, the campaign aligns with the organisation’s broader vision of celebrating Namibia’s rich artistic heritage.

The storied career of theatremaker Sandy Rudd is set to ignite the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) when the celebrated theatre doyen turns 70 years old in May. Titled ‘40 Years of Fabulous: A Retrospective of 40 Years of Theatre with Sandy Rudd’, the production was recently pitched to a roomful of theatremakers who have worked with Rudd across 161 productions spanning a variety of genres. Employing the idea of “looking back to see what we can do in the future”, ‘40 Years of Fabulous’ invites alumni of Rudd’s work in musicals, tribute shows, children’s theatre, special needs theatre, comedy, community theatre, Independence Day shows and College of the Arts Theatre School performances to sign up to be a part of the production.