Namibia mourns the passing of Ras Sheehama, a voice of truth, resilience, and soulful rebellion who carried our nation’s conscience through his music. Through reggae, he expressed themes of struggle and injustice, as well as love, healing, and hope. Sheehama was not just an artist; he was a truth-teller who dared to envision freedom, dignity, and justice long before they were achieved. 

Yet, in this moment of grief, we must also face a harsh reality. Sheehama has left us through self-death. Behind the rhythms that moved our spirits, there was also an unseen burden, the heavy silence of depression and internal struggle. Too often, as I have reflected in my own writings, we treat mental health as invisible, expecting people to endure their storms in silence. We forget that invisibility is not a superpower, and even those who shine the brightest for us can suffer quietly inside. 

Sheehama’s passing reminds us of the urgent call I once shared: we must make mental health a national priority. 

Between January 2021 and May 2022, Namibia lost 679 lives to suicide. Men, women, and even children. Each number is a name, a story, a family shattered. 

Today, that number includes a beloved musician whose voice once filled our festivals and homes. 

Let us honour Ras Sheehama not only by playing his music but also by learning from him. 

silence. Let us break the cycle before the cycle breaks us. 

Mental health is not a private struggle for the afflicted alone — it is a shared responsibility of families, communities, leaders, and the nation. We must declutter the shame, dismantle the stigma, and open our hearts to conversations that may save lives. 

In his song “Inotila,” Sheehama sang of struggle but also of endurance. Today, we carry his voice forward by choosing endurance in the fight for mental wellness in Namibia. His life reminds us that art can heal, but his death reminds us that healing must be sought and given —urgently, openly, and compassionately. 

May Ras Sheehama’s soul find peace. May his family find comfort in knowing his legacy will never fade. And may Namibia find the courage to face the hidden battles that claim too many of our sons and daughters. 

Lala ngoxolo, Ras Sheehama. Rest in eternal harmony. 

*Dr John Steytler is from R&J; Steytler Advisory. 

Promoting resilience, openness, and hope