WINDHOEK-The Namibia Gospel Music Trust (NGMT) is set to paint a new picture and to awaken the sleeping giant of Gospel music.
John Kasinda says the NGMT will host events and assist other gospel groups and initiatives with their programmes. The Trust will significantly contribute towards preparing the climate for choirs and musicians to perform and to tour, nationally and internationally. It will assist individual artist groups with the release of their albums and promotion of their status. The NGMT further promotes exchange between local and international artists and hopes to invite ‘big names’ to Namibia.
“We will kick start our activities with the Joyful Sounds Choir Competition, a ‘battle of Namibian choirs’ from both inside and outside ecclesiastical circles. The project is set to make waves as the first of its kind in Namibia, where some choirs will walk away with attractive prices and future prospects. Auditions start as early as August and the finals are scheduled to take place in November,” says Kasinda.
Kasinda adds that a team of professionals from within the performing arts industry laid the foundation for what is promising to become a new era for Gospel music in Namibia, both as regards the development of this sector in the Namibian music industry, and the general accessibility and popularity thereof amongst wider audiences.“This initiative builds on the fact that the Gospel music genre bears considerable potential. Four out of five musicians entering the live music industry in Namibia today, vocalists, keyboard players, guitarists, drummers, wood and brass instrumentalists, come from a Gospel music background. Still, the particular industry is subdued and it lacks the income generating momentum of, for example, the popular Kwaito and House music styles. Also, the enjoyment of Gospel music has for quite some time now been restricted to within the church walls, and this is about to change,” says Kasinda.
The Trust currently comprises five members from different walks of life, each with wide experience in the field of Gospel and Choral music. The initiators and co-founders are representatives of The Full Gospel Church of God in Namibia, Ernesto Paulus, who is also a musician. Kasinda himself is a session musician. Bonnie Pereko holds a bachelor of music from the University of Witwatersrand and has done choral as a conductor of the University of Namibia (Unam)’s choir over 15 years. Enid Johr is a member of the River of Life Community Church in Khomasdal, and Elia Chikwata Tapalo.
CAPTION: Elia Tapalo, Enid Johr, Ernesto Paulus, John Kasinda and Bonnie Pereko, all current members of the Namibia Gospel Music Trust (NGMT) that promises the Gospel genre to new heights.
Pic: NGMT