Gazza, StarDust and Paradox win big at Namibian music awards

Gazza (aka Lazarus Shiimi) was one of the biggest winners this year – much to the satisfaction of his many fans. He took home the coveted Best Male Artist of the Year award and also won Best Collaboration and Radio Song of the Year for ‘Shuna’ featuring DJ Bucks and Uhuru from South Africa, as well as Best Musical Event of the Year for his Ondjila album launch. The star also hosted the event, alongside Lady May. 

Fast-rising StarDust won in three of the four nominated categories. They were named Best Duo/Group, also winning Best Reggae (for ‘Calling on You’) and Best House (for ‘Lights’). StarDust, made up of Muni Hoveka and Breanna Kandanga, took to Facebook to express their thanks on Monday: “Thank you to every single person who made this possible! Thank you to our team, our supporters, friends and family! We are extremely grateful. Honestly, words will never be enough to describe how thankful we are.”

Other major winners on the night include Paradox, who took home Most Disciplined Artist of the Year, Most Popular Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for ‘Chasin’ ft. Ali That Dude. Oteya was named Best Female Artist of the Year for ‘Chiporoporo’ ft. SwartBaster, and also took home Best Afro-Pop for ‘Ethimbo’. The Best Music Video award went to Black Vulcanite for ‘Big Egos’ featuring Ruby Burton.

As is the convention in other parts of the continent, the awards ceremony was divided over two nights, with the Industry Awards taking place on Friday to recognize the less popular categories, and the main event on Saturday night awarding artists in the higher-profile categories. Both nights of the ‘blue carpet’ event were televised live on Namibian TV as well as streamed online. The weekend also included a conference on ‘How To Succeed in the pan-African music industry’ hosted by the NAMA Academy.

The audience was treated to live performances by the likes of StarDust, Nianell, Riana Nel, Bullet Ya Kaoko, Tswazis and Female Donkey. Unfortunately, Gazza’s performance that closed the evening was interrupted by the backing track getting stuck, which killed the performance. LeShawn made a controversial move, coming onto stage uninvited apparently to lament the media and the public for not paying attention to his music, but causing some confusion in the process.

Congratulations to all the winners at the 2015 NAMAs:

• Best Acapella: Ovanandjeda Choir – ‘Jesus Hinakumuesa’
• Best Afrikaans: Araffath – ‘Bughter Meisie’ ft. S-Man
• Best Gospel: D-Naff – ‘Omwa Tuulukila Ondjila’ ft. Tequila & V-Lo
• Best Kizomba: Blossom – ‘Egululandje’
• Best Song with a Message: Big Ben – ‘Africa Unite (Against Baby Dumping)’
• Best Reggae: StarDust – ‘Calling On You’
• Best Rock / Alternative: Lize Ehlers – ‘Just Show Up’
• Best Shambo: Lonette – ‘Owambo’
• Best Single: Chikune – ‘Pumpkin’
• Most Disciplined Artist of the Year: Paradox
• Best Live Performance of the Year: Ongoro no Mundu
• Entertainment Journalist of the Year: Rinelda Mouton
• Entertainment DJ of the Year: Gospert Kaffer
• Best Musical Event of the Year: Gazza Ondjila CD Launch 
• Most Socially Responsible: D-Naff 
• Best Producer: Araffath Muhuure
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Tate Kwela  
• Best Afro-Pop (incl. Township Disco): Oteya – ‘Ethimbo’
• Best Collaboration: Gazza – ‘Shuna’ ft. DJ Bucks & Uhuru
• Best Damara Punch: Dixon – ‘Ti xun’
• Best Duo/Group: StarDust – ‘Lights’
• Best House: StarDust – ‘Lights’
• Best Kwaito: Exit – ‘Killa All-Star’
• Best Music Video: Black Vulcanite – ‘Big Egos’
• Best Newcomer: Kalux – ‘Hafifange’
• Best Oviritje: Bullet Ya Kaoko – ‘Ombua’ 
• Best RnB: LiL D - 'This Is Love'
• Best Rap/Hip-Hop: KK - 'Katutura Kid'
• Best Soukous/Kwasa: Blossom - 'Indamo Mondambo'
• Best Traditional: Donsy & Daisy - 'Ī Da Ge Ra'
• Radio Song of the Year: Gazza – ‘Shuna’ ft. DJ Bucks & Uhuru
• Most Popular Artist of the Year: Paradox     
• NAMA Special Recognition Award: Juanita Du Plessis               
• Best Album of the Year: Tswazis - Full Force
• Best Female Artist of the Year: Oteya – ‘Chiporoporo’ ft. SwartBaster
• Best Male Artist of the Year: Gazza – ‘Shuna’ ft. DJ Bucks & Uhuru
• Song of the Year: Paradox - 'Chasin' ft Ali That Dude