As Namibia celebrates 34 years of independence, the Zambezi region joins the nationwide celebrations with a focus on honouring local cultural icons. Among them is the late Stoney Mubiana, whose enduring legacy continues to shape the artistic landscape of the region.
Mubiana is Zambezi’s pride, and a musical powerhouse. He remains one of the region’s few nationally-celebrated, conscious music artists. He is one of Namibia’s versatile musicians to have gained popularity around the country’s Independence in 1990.
The ‘Mama Waka’ singer was a popular performer in the live music circuit at the time. Mubiana’s son, Leon, remembers his father’s dedication to nurturing young talent in the Zambezi region. “My father always believed in the potential of local artists, and encouraged them to pursue their passions. This ranges from the rhythms of Afrobeat, and related to the culture and happenings in the Zambezi region,” he said.
Leon was just 15 years old when his father passed away.
During the short period that he lived with him, he learned a lot, including his love for music and arts.
At the time when he was falling in love with rap music, his father got him his first rap cassette.
He added that his father always advocated for the inclusion of young talents from the region and Namibia at large.
Leon said his father dreamt of the music industry being recognised, and artists’ work being protected.
Mubiana was a member of the board of directors for the Namibia Society of Composers and Authors of Music (Nascam), where he contributed to the development of the music industry not only for the Zambezi region, but the country as a whole.
His music is still played on local radio in Zambezi. “His contribution to the Namibian music industry was instrumental, and represents an invaluable mark that helped ignite and set local music and talent on a growth route,” said Leon of the time when his father was honoured with a lifetime award in 2019 at the Namibia Annual Music Awards (NAMAS).
“I was young, but I was told that my dad started his music career at a very young age. He was influenced by his uncle Alfea Mebra Mwakamui, who was also a well-known musician, and sang and played guitar. In the early days of my father’s career, he played for a group called Kamunu Band with the likes of Steve Maiba, Patrick Mushabati and his cousin Judith Ndana, to mention a few,” Leon continued. They used to have disco concerts in town, and their main sponsor was the late Bornface Likando, who was known as Kamunu before independence.
This band was popular, and formed the basis of live shows in the Zambezi region’s local concerts. Mubiana later formed another band called Makando Band with Patrick Likezo Simataa, also a musician from Impalila in the Zambezi region. In 1990, he moved to Windhoek, where he studied composition and music theory, and also mastered the keyboard.
“My dad worked for the NBC as a music librarian before he was promoted to senior music librarian, and was a member of the board of directors for Nascam. In Windhoek, he continued his music career, and Makando band became popular here as well. He supported and advocated for female musicians to be recognised in the industry,” he added.
His father’s music had an impact on the residents of Zambezi, as his Song ‘Mama Waka’ was a hit. The song even got nominated continentally in the Africa Song Competition.
“It was understood that he made music for Africa and the world, which put the Zambezi region on the map of Africa and the world,” Leon noted.
His father also overcame many challenges in his musical career. At the time, there were no music production houses in the Zambezi region, and his father likewise had no finances to grow in the industry. Leon said his father overcame the challenges when he decided to finance his music productions by holding shows to raise funds. He later managed to record his last two albums with private studios in Windhoek.