WINDHOEK– Self-taught late Shambo guitarist and folklore musician, Johannes Almas, stage name Tate Kwela will be bestowed by the Namibia Annual Music Awards (NAMAs) with the Life Time Achievement Award for 2015.
This has been confirmed by NAMAs Executive Chairman, Tim Ekandjo. The late Tate Kwela was born on April 4, 1943 in Akweenyaga village in Uukwambi District of Oshana region and passed on on November 23, 2005 at the age of 62 years. He released a number of albums, amongst them Unplugged, Mutaleni Gwandje, Kwela and Lexington and Cassette Session with hit songs like Ohela Hela and Kanailonga that are still popular long after his passing on. Tate Kwela captured both young and old with his music and lyrics as he would dazzle with his guitar – much to the amusement of live audience and studio performance during a career that span over four decades.
“He was one of the first recording artist in Namibia. You would have to understand culture and language in order to make sense of his music and lyrics because they were very deep and touching. He sang about the liberation struggle without necessarily having crossed the border but fighting with his lyrics and the oppressors could not pick up the lyrics. He was one of a very few artists [who] wrote all his songs himself and nobody could play the lead guitar the way he did. He was also one of the first artists to sing about AIDS in his song titled ‘small minds’.” “Tate Kwela could make beautiful songs without the assistance of technology and was surely an artist in his own league up there with the likes of Oliver Mtukudzi and others”
We are looking forward to honour this musical genius and it is a real pity that we do so now that he has passed,” says Ekandjo hoping that Tate Kela’s music will continue to inspire many musicians for many more years to come.
He described Tate Kwela as a musical beacon and guiding light of Namibian Music. “Tate Kwela flourishing oratory skills and inspirational lyrics coupled with his amazing guitar prowess – reflects the immense talent that he had as a craft men – was unparalleled. It is therefore an honour to bestow this honour to Tate Kwela”.