WINDHOEK– As if his NAMAs performance in Swakopmund was not enough when he hit the stage with superb dance moves and overwhelmingly desirable live performance which left the crowd begging for more, Strauss Lunyangwe aka Mr Makoya aka Kanye West of Katima, recently released a super cool video of his song titled Living your life. This is far the best video I have seen this year on our national broadcasters and I found it really something worth the talk. The video, which is part of his latest ‘bly in jou baan’ album, was produced by Carlos of Mungwe Productions. It does not have much details in it, which makes the whole idea well executed clearly carrying out the message it ought to send across. You do not need to be a professional to know better, even a layman can tell. The moves, the outfit and the quality of the video in general… just perfect!
Many Namibian artists prefer shooting music videos by throwing parties, drinking expensive alcohol and driving expensive cars. Many like inviting young beautiful girls in their bikinis diving in swimming pools and shooting at sexy bikinis car wash with the idea to make the video look more tempting and desirable. Mr Makoya on the other hand chose rather a simple approach with this music video. He outdid himself with amazing dance moves in that video, which you would want to try out and imitate to the best of your abilities. The video is plain simple yet catchy and very appealing. Makoya who humorously claims to have a ‘PhD’ in dance moves, says, “I am known for my dancing a lot on stage and I wanted to bring that back. The concept is to give people something to enjoy watching, instead of having expensive cars, parties or girls in it,’’ he says. The video feature Mr Makoya himself and the legendary Weekend Band. “I am always mixing old school with new, hence the legendary Weekend Band in the video.”
Mr Makoya says every time he releases an album, it is always different and thus matching himself to the famous American star rapper and song writer, Kanye West, and hence calling himself the Kanye West of Katima. “I do not stick to the ABC rules of music, I am more of a trendsetter than a follower”. The artist says the essence of the song/video is simply to send out a message that people should concentrate more on living their lives than concentrating on other people’s lives.
This essence is also clearly carried out in the title of the album itself, ‘bly in jou baan’. The 14-track album was released earlier this year featuring Peppie, Adora, Diop and Hishishi Papa. It has been produced by Arrafath, Elvo and Kanibal. “The title is really catchy, this basically refers to staying in your lane. Don’t try to be someone else. That is why in the streets they now know why I say create your own path, do not follow in somebody else’s, he added.
By Hilma Himotha
CAPTION: Mr Makoya during the video shoot of the song, Living your life.
Picture: Mr Makoya