Earlier this month a radio announcer for the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) Otjiherero Language Service, responsible for entertainment, Max Tjiundje, aka DJ Max-T, made history when he became the first winner of the first ever Radio Entertainer of the Year category in the Namibian Annual Music Awards (NAMAs), quipping even commercial radio stations in the country to the accolade. New Era’s leisure, lifestyle and entertainment section, Time Out, finds out from DJ Max-T how he views such an achievement, and what he attributes it to?
TIME OUT: DJ Max-T, you are Namibia, the whole of Namibia’s best radio entertainer! Has this come as a surprise to you?
Well, it was a heavy road for me to get where I am today, and I have worked very hard to get where I am. I started in 1997 to entertain through the Namibian airwaves. I love my job, it’s through my hard work that my fans base has grown. My fans have gone out of their way and voted me because they love what I do, now that was a surprise for me. Hip, Hip hooray, team Dj Max-T!
TIME OUT: The most interesting thing is that you have been crowned as such while you are only a DJ for the Otjiherero Language Service of the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). How do you explain that?
In 2004 when I joined the NBC’s Otjiherero, I had a dream to rock the nation and the station had a vision. I specialises in entertainment and the station needed to uplift its entertainment department, and the fact that I was a young black and gifted man, I was just the right man for job yes!
TIME OUT: How much does that speak of the Otjiherero Language Service?
100% Herbie PH for life!
TIME OUT: Is that a confirmation of this service’s motto: “First of the pack and second to none?”
This proves that the NBC’s Otjiherero is the best station in the country. You can’t have the title of the best radio entertainer if you are not at the best radio station. We are the best radio station, we run the airwaves 101.7fm, Omurari!
TIME OUT: In fact what does that motto actually mean?
There is no other radio station in this country that can rock the airwaves like we do. From education, information and entertainment, we give it to the Namibian nation 100%.
TIME OUT: What is the first thing that was going right through your mind when the announcers for this category went on stage?
May the best team win!
TIME OUT: And when they eventually called out your name? What did you feel right at that moment?
I scream out loud that I am the best entertainer first ever in the history of the Namibian music industry.
TIME OUT: What do you actually think brought you where you are today? To be Namibia’s best radio entertainer for 2014? I love my… I am a humble man and when I put my mind on something, I do it 100%.
TIME OUT: Can you take us a little bit back in your history as a DJ? How you started and what you went through to be where you are today?
Well I started as a volunteer at the Katutura Community Radio in 1997 until 1999. As a young man who comes from a low life back ground, it was hard and I had to do everything in my power to keep going. From there through the office of Misa Namibia I join a programme called Namibian Community Radio Network. I was the driving force behind the establishment of a community radio station in 2002 to 2004. In that period I went for training in Cape Town at the Bush Radio Station. On September 1, 2004, I joined the NBC Otjiherero Radio Station till now. And now I am the best entertainer in the country, wow!
TIME OUT: And after all these, how do you look back on this achievement?
Ag, trust me, I was born to make it and I am a hard worker and it shows that when you work hard it will pay off at the end of the day. So please [stop] being lazy, wake up and work hard if you want to make it in life!
TIME OUT: When is the party? And who is invited? And what kind of a bash can we look forward to?
I am not making a party for now, the price I won I will invest in my business.
TIME OUT: And whereto from now with Max-T, Namibia’s Best Radio Entertainer of the Year?
No after party as for now I am working on a big project that I am focusing on so as always it is back to work. I want people to understand if your fans give you a big [thing] like that, show them that you did something productive with the price you won.
TIME OUT: And do you actually see yourself as just an entertainer or something more than that? And what is that?
I see myself as a best radio entertainer, business person, family man and most of all an icon for the young ones of our country.