WINDHOEK– With the recent success of the ‘Windhoek Jazz Night’ at the Warehouse Theatre, the Ondjila Y’Ondjaba Concert Agency plans a comparable ‘coup’ within the African music genre. Voila the birth of ‘Windhoek Afro Nights’, the first of its kind taking place next Friday at the Warehouse Theatre.
First to feature is local artist Patricia /Ochurus, who opens for the Ugly Creatures, legendary veteran musicians and living witness of the evolvement of Namibian music over the past thirty years and beyond. Patricia /Ochurus refers to herself as a veteran female artist, yet, here is a young woman and mother to four kids, who still has the greatest part of her musical career ahead of her. She performed in various musicals at the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) in the 1990s, participated in the Sidadi traditional music project 2000 – 2003 and performed alongside Ivory Coast’s Dobet Gnahore at the Zoopark Acoustic Africa Concert in 2010. The formidable singer featured on the landmark CD production Handful of Namibians in 2007 and produced her own CD /Khara /Kharasen in 2011. She was a Last Band Standing semifinalist in 2011 and second runner up in 2012.
Another Local band that will feature is the Ugly Creatures, which originated from a high school band at the Martin Luther High School, near Okombahe, way back in 1971. Founding members were Joni Adams on vocals and saxophone; Axali J. Doëseb on trombone, keyboards and vocals and Dantago Nicro //Hoabeb on trumpet and vocals. They were later joined by siblings Baby Doëseb on guitars, Helois //Hoabeb on bass and childhood buddy Jomo !Haoseb on drums.
Competition amongst bands was rife in those days in all quarters. ‘Locomotion’ comprised a mixture of Namibian and South African musicians. ‘The Baronages’, the ‘Motions and ‘the ‘Gypsies’ were based in Katutura. ‘Fifth Wheel’, ‘The Misty’, ‘Chicitoes’, ‘Purple Haze’ hailed from Khomasdal and ‘Fingers’, ‘Deadwood’ and ‘CFP’ reigned in Walvis Bay. Life music sounded at community halls, at private parties, weddings and gatherings of all kind. The mutual love for music, the willingness to share in the talent and the jest for competition provided fertile soil for musical growth.
The Creatures played covers and produced three albums of original compositions. Songs like Shirley, Creatures of the Earth, Not Tonight, Sas xa, Friends of Mine, Give your Heart and !Erere reached top ten on the various black radio stations in Namibia and South Africa. Compositions of equal popularity, like //Khowa am dao amte, I’ll Never Let my Tears (Run Down my Face) and Eyes of Ice were banned from radio waves and public performances, courtesy of the then Apartheid rule.
Musically, the Ugly Creatures are influenced by, Paul Kumundu and Ou Leyden Naftali. Musicians who are still around remain their ‘peers’: Warmgat, ╪Kharixuro, Ou Aleb and Ou Kookwater, all saxophonists of note, guitarist David ╪Eixab on guitars and late Jack Doeseb Senior. On the international front the Ugly Creatures look up to Miriam Makeba and David Thekwane from Souith Africa, idolize soul and blues artist the Commodores and Isaack Hayes and heavy rockers Grand Funk and Deep Purple still influence their style.
After a long, self-imposed period of ‘silence’ around the Ugly Creatures, they celebrated a roaring come-back at the Old Mutual Jazz Festival in 2007 and topped this up with a ‘packed to the rafter’ gig at the Warehouse Theatre. Today, they are a class act in their own right, still performing live, still magical and still incomparable. Since their revival, the Creatures have taken on younger musicians, year on year, and have provided them with a platform, thereby remaining true to their habitual spirit of sharing, nurturing and coaching. Younger members and featured artists are Gerson Doëseb on electric piano, Alphie Witbooi on keyboards, Golden Tak on trumpet, Oompie Eliaser Kavari on vocals, Haroldt /Urib Junior on saxophones and – from time to time – ‘the rose’ Esme Katjikuru on vocals.
The Windhoek Afro Night will start at 20hoo. Tickets are available for N$ 60 in advance at the Warehouse Theatre in 48 Tal Street, and N$ 80 at the door.