The Collective Singers have been chosen by international choral powers, the International Federation for Choral Music, to represent not only Namibia but the whole of Africa at the World Choral Expo in Lisbon, Portugal. 

Is anyone talking about this? Who is anyone, you ask? Anyone is you! You are anyone.  Apart from this publication, how many other media houses took it upon themselves to extensively cover the fact that a Namibian choir is set to represent the whole of the continent on an international platform? I am not talking about a flimsy two-sentence article buried at the bottom of the page; I am talking about a full-page spread feature. 

I am talking about an extensive interview on radio. I am talking about extensive visual coverage from the national broadcaster and other TV broadcasters.  How many of our so-called influencers took a minute or two to share the fact that a Namibian ensemble will represent the whole of the continent on an international stage to their thousands of followers? For years, I have been saying there are a few things that are part and parcel of the Namibian way of life – pageantry, choir and athletics. 

For years on this platform, I have highlighted these three factors as your Namibian way of life.  Which school in this country did not entertain at least one of these factors? Then how is it that today, in 2022, we cannot raise a nation and support the Collective Singers?  How is it that the Collective Singers must struggle to find sponsorship to fuel their trip to Portugal?  You know what? Let us entertain the fact that we are highly influenced by South Africa. We, mos, so badly want to be South African. We, mos, worship all things South African (Google ‘Mzansibola’). 

Let us entertain the fact that we do everything South Africans do. Pageantry, choir and athletics are not far from the South African way of life either. 

South Africans love pageantry, South Africans love choral music.  South Africans are probably one of the most competitive African nations in athletics after Kenya, Nigeria and Ethiopia. 

So, if South Africans love pageantry, choir and athletics, why do we not get the same energy from Namibians for Namibian pageantry, choral and athletics?  The Collective Singers ought not to struggle for funds. The Namibian corporate space was supposed to own this trip to Portugal. 

Government, via the arts directorate, was to canvass support for a legendary send-off. We, as ordinary Namibians, were to hype our own in every single bit of way.  But sadly, it is not the case.  The Collective Singers, like many other Namibians who take a big leap of faith to represent the land of the brave on the international stage, must be content with a lack of support from all quarters of the Namibian society and somehow miraculously do wonders on the international stage.  Watch how the political and social vultures will jump on the Collective Singers’ bandwagon when they do well at the World Choral expo.  Regardless, I wish the Collective Singers all the best.  Our harmonies are enough. Our authentic stories are enough. As a patriot, I salute you!  Until the next Loop, we say #GMTM  * Need an MC? I do not post naked pictures or have a 100k followers but after 10 years of MCeeing, I think I can do the job. Contact me for a quote at naobebsekind@gmail.com