Namibians Need New Tunes
“I wouldn’t say we have a genre that defines Namibia,” the young, plump, pimple-faced local girl huffs out the words along with a flimsy stream of second-hand cigarette smoke. “We really want to be just like Americans so we listen to American music.”
“But the music you’re listening to is a tiny fraction of what American music really is,” I begin my response with obvious frustration but take a deep breath and a pull of my Windhoek Lager and begin again.
“American music isn’t only about getting rich and famous, having lots of fantastic sex with gorgeous women, blinking jewelry, fast cars, and vacation homes. There are millions of musicians who will never have those things and whose music will never make it to the speakers in this bar. Musicians who play for the love of it, not the glory in it,” I started off calm, but finished with more obvious irritation. Finishing my beer, I politely excuse myself to get fresh air and contemplate what has just been said.
This one disappointing conversation happened last Saturday in Walvis Bay, Namibia. I haven’t limited my opinions to this one chat with one carbuncular face; there have been dozens more equally unsatisfactory in my informal polling of the local populace from Luderitz to Swakopmond. All in all I estimate I’ve popped the “What are you listening to?” question to about 40 young Namibians and each reply with generally the same answer…hip-hop.
At first I thought to myself, “excellent, I’m a fan of hip hop and make the genre a regular rotation on my iPod; I’d love to score some great local talent.” My next question naturally always is, “Who are you listening to?”
The answers are typically the same ten or fifteen artists: Ludacris, Nelly, Snoop Dogg, Chamillionaire, 2Pac, Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, P. Diddy, DMX, and other equally famous and equally overplayed stars. This is where it gets frustrating for two reasons.
First reason is I already have these artists on my iPod.
Second reason is Namibians define American music with these ten to fifteen superstars. Every person alive has their own idea of what defines American music, so who am I to judge if this is the way Namibians define our music? Because, damn it, I have worked with and for and become friends with many of those unknown, un-famous, un-star artists who make up the vast majority of creative musical talent in America. Music that is silently sitting on that seldom visited MySpace page begging to be heard. Music on that hand scribbled CDR submitted to the record labels and music licensing companies. Music that is so flippin’ good that the little corner bar or coffee shop has to feature them two nights per week to handle the crowds. Music that will never make it to Namibian speakers.
People can’t make decisions or definitions without knowing the facts and the fact is a definition can’t be made based on the insignificant piece of the American musical pie Namibians listen to. How can a person living in Namibia define what American music is when they will never be exposed to independent American music? They can form their own definitions, with a little effort from both corners of the Atlantic.
I challenge any independent American musician reading this to make an effort to distribute and market your music to Namibians. It’ll probably help that you’re a hip-hopper, but I know there are 1.9 million people living in this country that are starving for new sounds.
I challenge any Namibian reading this to visit the nearest Internet cafe and go to MySpace.com, SonicBids.com, CDBaby.com, Imeem.com, MusicLicensingStore.com, or any other website where independent musicians promote themselves. Spend an hour and you’ll find more music that you’re fifteen superstars have ever created.
So to all you musicians of America, help the people of Namibia define American music by providing your piece of it. And to all the American music fans of Namibia, seek out independent American music to help you form your own definition of what American music is.
