WINDHOEK– After representing Namibia, and being the only artist from Southern Africa to perform at the Le Kolatier Festival in Cameroon recently, Jazz artist, Erna Chimu, is back and looking forward to take part in more international festivals.
Chimu says that the festival was a lifetime opportunity that gained her recognition. “I have learned so much from my trip, how I can do things better in my music and so on. I got three more invitations to bigger festivals. The festival did not only give me recognition as an artist who performed there but they also distributed a compilation CD to other different festivals, so I am one step ahead in being noticed. My song Telewaniba is on the compilation CD and the videos that were taken are being sent to other festivals. I even sold my album there and got myself new fans in Yaounde, who are now following me,” Chimu informs.
She adds that they were treated with respect and everything was done on time. “We were treated like ministers, or let me say, like high profile people. Musicians there are treated with respect and they take their music very serious, they are very professional and punctual,” Chimu says. She and her band were not the only foreign band to represent their culture, and celebrate music as they shared the stage with various bands from Senegal, Guinea, Niger, Cap-vert, Togo, Cameroon, Angola and The Ivory Coast.
“I honestly didn’t know how they will react to the “clicks” and my music because we were only four, but all things are possible when you keep going regardless of people not supporting you. We were given a drummer and a bass player from the organisers of Maryze Ngalulas band (DRC), because they knew an artist only has one chance and a band is what those people are looking for,” she says.
The festival was not just a music festival but also more of an interactive workshop. “The festival was like stage one. You get to meet the festival organisers, other musicians as well as directors of arts and culture. You get to find out how they are all linked to other festivals around the world and just to learn that some of them are the once who send African musicians to festivals all around the world. It was a success,” she says.
Chimu was accompanied by four members of her band namely, Gerson Doeseb (keyboards), Samuel B. Batola (guitar & vocals), Manneckey Khoe-aob, Cagon & Percussions (vocals).
She is one of the best talented jazz singers and composer in the country and with her lyrics and melodies she has captured many hearts.
By Selma Neshiko