Namibia: Monkey Nuts, Ras Sheehama to play NUTS gig

Founded in 2014, NUTS is a monthly concert series held on the first Friday of each month. The 2017 finale, which the Music In Africa Foundation (MIAF) will attend to present its revamped online portal, will provide local artists with an opportunity to showcase their talent and contribute to cultural development in Namibia.

Outstanding Namibian Afro-reggae singer-songwriter Ras Sheehama will headline the event. Sheehama, who has been making music for close to three decades, is renowned for his socio-political criticism through song.

Joining him are the Monkey Nuts, a Zimbabwean band that is expected to spice up the concert with its experimental style of hip hop blended with native chimurenga (liberation) rhythms, electronica and ambient tones. The band is regarded as one of the most forward-thinking hip hop acts to come out of the Zimbabwean contemporary music scene.

Goethe-Institut Namibia cultural programmes coordinator Ruth Suermann told Music In Africa that the event had gained momentum since its inception more than three years ago.

“We started in August 2014 with 28 people in the audience but it grew fast and now we have an average number of 120 people in the audience for every concert,” she said. “The December concerts trigger more people because we always bring something special.

“We are aiming to keep people updated on new talent and new trends in music. We get many request from artists who want to perform on our stage, which is good feedback for us and motivates us to continue with NUTS.”

Asked about the challenges her organisation faces in hosting the NUTS series, Suermann said: “The Namibian music scene is very small, most artists know each other. As a result of this small community, the audience might have seen the new talent on another stage already. This makes it hard sometimes to find something absolutely new. But I feel that the audience appreciates every music act and is very supportive.”

She said that inviting musicians from other countries had created a platform where artists could share knowledge. “I think the exchange with musicians from neighbouring countries as well as other regions on the continent and the world brings in new ideas and motivation to work on skills,” Suermann said.

Meanwhile, the MIAF has invited music professionals to apply for the Steps to a Professional Music Career workshop at Goethe-Institut Windhoek on 6 and 7 December. The submission deadline is 3 December. Click here to find out more about the application process.