With Carlos Kambaekwa
Back in the 1970s, almost every moving soul in the then South West Africa (SWA), as Namibia was colonially known during the height of Apartheid, would visit the coastal town of Walvis Bay at the slightest provocation and will be extremely fond of being holed up at sea level for an assortment of reasons.
Those living inland could just not resist the smell of the Atlantic Ocean with its breezing cool weather conditions that prevailed over the coast but there was more than meets the eye regarding their admiration for the harbour town. Two things spring to mind, the annual popular Easter football tournament, and the much craved-for festive season that attracted hundreds of landlocked holiday goers and fun seekers en masse to the coastal town for a much-deserved and desired get away and escape from the overcrowding movements and hustle and bustle of the capital city’s life.
Apart from Blue Waters Football Club, playing attractive football that captured the imagination of many football followers, including those from rivals teams – the town produced one of the most coveted musical pop bands of all time in the shape of the Children From Pluto, in short CFP. CFP began life as Count Five under the stewardship of versatile guitarist, Tecko Scott-Nendongo in the late 1960s. The band lined up Simon Nehoya (Sammy Fame – vocals); Bernard Shivute (Joe Barry – vocals); Tocko Scott-Nendongo (guitar); Reinhardt Shailemo (Ronny Starr – drums) and Jacob Angunga (Jakes Angel – guitar).
As has become a norm with many musical institutions locally, and internationally, the band underwent a major facelift in the intervening years. In came Apere Nendongo (bass), Beau Ipinge (guitar & vocals), Scara Kuiri (drums); Tommy Amukanya Kaimbi and Meisie Zuzo (both vocals) to replace the old guard – leaving Tocko Scott the only surviving member of the band to shift behind the ivories (keyboards).
Such was the popularity of CFP that whenever the band wandered in Windhoek, a sizeable contingent of its adoring fans would bring traffic to a virtual standstill in Claudius Kandovazu Street and Donkerhoek, north of Katutura, as they comforted themselves into Sies Kapuku, Sies Marry Mbako and Johnny Iyambo’s homes to iconic welcomes. Their popular rearranged signature tune, Shebeen (Mamaliwa), and Long-Long Way to Pluto, drove music revelers into a frenzy as the bulky Beau left the crowd shouting for more with his pitch voice and gentle strumming on his guitar in the pack to rafters Community Hall in Katutura.
CFP enjoyed huge following in towns such as Luderitz, Keetmanshoop and Oshakati, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. “We used to perform at Frans Indongo’s Dance Hall in Oshakati where we drew large crowds, notwithstanding the continued presence of gun totting Koevoet members,” recalls Tocko. Fittingly, the popularity of the Kuisebmond’s pop ensemble was maximised by astute politicians as the band intertwined with the Swapo Party Freedom Movement to spread the gospel of freedom in relation to racial discrimination, tribal segregation and resisting oppression by the South African Apartheid regime towards the marginalised masses during Swapo Party rallies.
CFP was among the star-studded line up during the historic Battle of the Bands that attracted the country’s top bands including Chicittos, Osibisa, Barongaes, Ugly Creatures to the Katutura Community Hall in 1975. The band finally folded in 1980, just at the same time when two of the country’s all time adored and accomplished pop ensembles from the previously disadvantaged communities, Baronages and the Ugly Creatures, started to invade the local live entertainment scene with musical virtuosity yet to be experienced in this neck of the woods.
In all fairness, CFP was still going strong and enjoyed mass following across the country but the burden of traveling long distances to perform in remote towns, and long hours of rehearsals after a hard day’s work, took its toll on its members. The unfulfilled musical journey of CFP was effectively brought to a halt when astute bandleader, Tocko, resolved to tie the knot.