The brains behind the Kasie Vibe Festival are set to take on a new challenge and venture into comprehensive event management services.
Founder of Kasie Vibe Williebath Bomba Shigwedha told VIBEZ! that with years of extensive experience in organising and curating vibrant, impactful events, they are ready to open doors to fully plan, coordinate and manage both formal and informal events for individuals, businesses and organisations.
“Event management has always been part of the Kasi Vibe Namibia vision. The time has finally come to launch it as a dedicated service.
“What sets us apart in the events management industry is our distinctive mindset, grassroots connection and unique approach to delivering memorable experiences,” he said.
Since the inception of the Kasi Vibe Festival, it has successfully drawn an audience exceeding 150 000 participants across 12 remarkable festival occurrences. “We have been part of the nightlife and restaurant business for a while now. Apart from the festival itself, we have been hosting smaller social market events/music shows,” Shigwedha stated.
“Kasi Vibe Namibia has grown to become a household name, inspiring a new generation of local festivals and contributing significantly to Namibia’s economy. As we evolve, we remain committed to empowering communities, supporting local talent and creating spaces that celebrate innovation, culture and entrepreneurship,” he said.
Their new role in the sector will entail planning and organising promotional, business and social events.
The team will manage the entire process from the planning stage, right through to running the event and carrying out the post-event evaluation.
The role is primarily hands-on and often involves working as part of a team.
“As part of another project, we are also excited to share that we are currently planning our first-ever Kasi Vibe Masterclass, set to take place in November 2025. This masterclass will serve as a platform for knowledge-sharing, mentorship and skills development within the creative and business sectors,” he said.
In light of these new developments and to allow for effective restructuring, they have decided to pause this year’s main Kasi Vibe Festival.
The festival will return, bigger and better in 2026 as part of their renewed vision.
Shigwedha said entertainment has changed with too many copy-and-paste ideas, and very little innovation when it comes to events.
“Most people follow trends and trends don’t last. So, I would say the climate has changed for the worse. It’s hard getting sponsors and corporations to work with. Government hardly supports the creative industry, so it’s hard to sustain the industry. We need more creatives to collaborate with, working alone won’t take us anywhere or far,” he stressed.
“The sector is tapped but not really recognised or respected enough. Looking at an example of the Chris Brown show that was in South Africa, we saw hotels, flights, restaurants and the whole hospitality industry in South Africa thriving because of one event. Just imagine if in Namibia we had a regional event that attracted people from outside the country,” he reasoned.
Shigwedha feels that collectively, there is a need to look into hosting events that attract visitors from outside. “This alone can help the hospitality and tourism industries as well as the creative industry. Plus, in event management, one is never done learning and unlearning. Stepping into event management will just help us grow as a brand beyond our borders as well,” he stated.
-slunyangwe@nepc.com.na