Are artists empty heads? Slow-witted? Dense? Dunce-like? Basically, are artists stupid? Are artists just brainless people who are broke, and go about life talking about matters that are not of national and societal importance?
Because in this Namibia of ours, once you pronounce your artistry, people automatically calculate the respect they will give you – which in all honesty, is close to nothing. In Mbumba’s land, people will automatically assume that being an artist is as dense as they come, and hence not worthy of their respect. You are automatically deemed stupid.
I find this reality exceptionally weird. Any form of art takes an incredible level of intelligence to create. Borderline extreme erudition. To create a song from scratch to a point where it evokes an emotion has to be brilliant. To transform into another person and bring its character to life must be brilliant.
To paint from scratch a piece that gets your mind racing has to be brilliant. To internalise and decipher complex information and relay it to thousands every day on air must be brilliant. To take different songs and line them up in a manner that moves a crowd must be brilliant.
This is why I find this reality of “artists are just empty heads” unbelievably weird. Notwithstanding that, we have tons of artists who actually have some form of tertiary education. Because of the reality of Namibian society, the majority of artists cannot 100% depend on their art.
The brutality is that artists either have to study and equip themselves with some form of qualification in order to survive in what I would sincerely term a dull-witted Namibian society.
We have artists with PhDs, Masters and BA degrees. Even so, stigma still wins at the end of the day. Somehow with this truth, artists are still looked down upon and termed empty heads. How is this possible? Namibian society warrants a study – a comprehensive study that will investigate our stupidity and ignorance as a society. Because what else can you call that? It has to be ignorance that enriches stupidity. Here’s an idea…perhaps artists who are pursuing their doctorates can actually use this as a case study. That would be the day. LOL!
In this week’s podcast episode of #IndustryLoop, we feature a personality who debunks the fallacy that artists are just stupid folk. This woman embodies intelligence and brilliance. Watch the episode.
If after you watch the episode and you still stick to your ignorant ways, then you are a special case that we would like to study. Use the hashtag #IndustryLoop when you share your views on socials, and leave a comment on YouTube.
Until the next Loop, we say #GMTM
* Need an MC? I’m YOUR guy. Hit me up…naobebsekind@gmail.com