By Hilja Shikongo 

After years of silence, Namibia’s most celebrated music awards, the Namibia Annual Music Awards (NAMAs), are on the radar again, with plans underway to revive the prestigious event. This time, the government is stepping in to take ownership of national-level recognition for musical talent, a first for Namibia. In an interview with Confidente, M’kariko Amagulu, director at the arts and culture ministry, said the government plans to bring back the exclusive music awards event.

 “For the first time, we are looking, as a government, to take over this award ceremony that recognizes exceptional performance within the music industry. The NAMAs were always a highlight for the musical scene in Namibia,” Amagulu explained. The NAMAs were established in 2011 and came to final in 2020. They awards were previously supported by Sanlam in partnership with NBC before MTC took over. Since then, the event has been on hold, but with the arts sector picking up momentum, Namibian musicians might soon have their spotlight back. In the past, artists would be recognized for outstanding achievements in the local music industry and they would receive trophies, sponsorships, and endorsement deals as well as cash prizes. 

Traditionally, the organizers would rope in international music judges, hosts and artists. Some of the notable winners of awards include Gazza, The Dogg , Wambo Seun, !Oubasen, Tunakie, The Wire, Mighty Vocals and Stefan Ludik as well as the late Jackson Kaujeua. Furthermore, Amagulu added that the Arts Council of Namibia has been working on launching the Namibia Arts and Culture Awards, a broader national initiative to celebrate creative excellence.