Reports alleging non-payment of artists who performed at the Etotha Carnival, nearly two months after the event, are not a new phenomenon in Namibia. 

This has been happening for decades. However, one cannot help but be disappointed that reports of this nature still dominate headlines in modern times, where everyone ought to understand the need to compensate a creative practitioner for their worth, and on time.

This reality is not unique to artists. A majority of creative practitioners have an “I never got paid,” or “They took months to pay me”, and “They paid me way less than what we agreed,” story. 

MCs, actors, visual artists…etc. I too have several “I never got paid” or “They took months to pay me” and “They paid me way less than what we agreed” stories. But we mostly move on, right? Which is the problem. No one ever stands up to fight back. If they do…they are a lone wolf that never really stands a chance against the might of an organisation or company.

This brings me to the next point I have always written about – crooked event organisers. The assumption has always been that it is the event organisers that focus on live music shows and concerts. The fact is, there are household companies who are guilty of not paying on time. 

The fact is, there are household entities that are guilty of devaluing a creative practitioner’s worth. What legal might does a sole creative practitioner have going up against a corporate entity that makes millions in a day?

However, I have always been a critical thinker. My critical thinking tells me that there might be other factors that may be at play which puts creative practitioners and event organisers at odds with each other. Could it be a lack of communication on the part of the client booking this creative practitioner?

Sometimes, event organisers (inclusive of household organisations and entities) are guilty of not managing expectations. If you book a creative practitioner on behalf of an organisation or corporate entity, and you know the finance department takes seven working days to process payments…why not communicate this fact in advance? 

Now in the case of Etotha organisers allegedly taking two months to settle payments to artists, the question is…did they communicate and manage expectations thereof with the artists? Did they keep the creative practitioners abreast with progress with regard to payment throughout the two months? One can’t help but assume that may not have been the case because why would it end up in the media?

The reality is with events, the creative practitioners are the least of event organisers’ worries. The norm is always to settle everything else before prioritising what’s due to a creative practitioner. The reality though is, because of the power of arts…no singular event can exist without the artistry of a host, music and other elements depending on the nature of the event.

Your host and the music are usually the elements, dispatched to activate a bit of dopamine. Scholars all over the world will preach the importance of activating dopamine in what could be a tense event.

So, the work done by creative practitioners can never not be important. The work done by creative practitioners can never not be a priority. If that is still how you operate in today’s times, you should do the honourable thing and never ever organise another event.

Either way…in 2024, we should not be having issues of this nature. No creative practitioner needs to explain to grown-up men and women in these spaces who manage these organisations and corporate entities to prioritise settling a fee on time. Will this norm ever change? I’ve been a professional creative practitioner for a decade and some change. Take it from me…different year, same old…same old.

Until the next Loop, we say #GMTM

Need an MC? I’m YOUR guy. Hit me up…naobebsekind@gmail.com