Monika Amunyela

Namibian upcoming artist Kandaha, born Anna Shalihu, is creating a space in the country’s music scene through a blend of deep house, amapiano and R&B influences. 

Born in Omaruru and raised in Windhoek, the creative is preparing to expand her musical mark and at the same time balancing being a dancer, visual artist and marketing agent. 

With three singles, ‘Your love’, ‘Obsession’ and ‘Take me away’ already dropped, Kandaha is on a roll and is ready to drop her new single, ‘Let me go’ in February this year. 

Kandaha noted that ‘Take me away’ hits closest to home, as it comes from personal experiences.  Her music draws inspiration from R&B, amapiano and deep house, however she remains flexible enough to evolve with changing trends.  

Her connection to music began early, through family and faith. Kandaha mentions her mother, who was a church choir singer, as her first and most influential inspiration. “I watched them perform every Sunday at church and at their rehearsals,” she says. 

Spending much of her childhood alongside her mother, who taught her multiple hymns, which stuck to with her, “It was not difficult to catch because I wanted to be like her,” she said, a desire that later turned into a passion for creating her very own sound. 

Although her genres lean toward deep house and amapiano which are mostly African sounds, her vocal style was shaped by international artists such as Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and Craig David. These influences helped her find a sound that balances soul, rhythm and emotional depth. 

As an emerging independent artist, Kandaha has faced challenges common to many musicians who are still creating a name for themselves, particularly visibility and access to performance opportunities. 

“Getting booked for special events is a challenge because you are not well known,” she says. Refusing to let this deter her from her mission she tackles her challenges through outreach, consistency and collaboration. 

“Reaching out to organisations, being consistent with music production, working with my team and marketing my music keeps me motivated,” she said.

Kandaha says fans can expect more music and collaborations, though details remain under wraps. Ultimately, her goal is authentic connection. “I want listeners to feel courage, confidence and contentment when they hear my music,” she concludes.

-mamunyela@nepc.com.na