A previous edition of Industry Loop proved a few things about us, as people. It proved that we do not know the difference between an opinion piece and an actual news article, which really is shocking because since Adam and Eve, the art of opinion has long been part and parcel of print media.

The need for an opinion piece stems from the fact that certain individuals in certain sectors hold vast industry experience and knowledge, making them a point of reference, and they do not mind sharing these learned views via print with the rest of the readership. 

It is not an uncommon practice.

So, it is exceptionally worrisome to see that a majority of the people who took the time to leave a comment on Facebook on last week’s Industry Loop, which highlighted Gazza’s ordeal at the Burna Boy show, could not grasp the basic concept of an opinion piece.

That opinion piece proved we do not exactly understand how the entertainment business works – or dare I say, we refuse to understand. 

There is this unfortunate wave gripping the Namibian ordinary man on the street, who take pride in not knowing something or bearing knowledge about a certain factor. 

It is weird: how are you proud to announce to the world that you do not know something? And if you do not know something, surely that ought to prompt you to do research?

In this case, there were quite a number of comments on that post, where people kept asking, who is Gazza? 

I am not sure whether that was a mass distasteful attempt at sarcasm or genuinely these few individuals had no idea who Gazza is.  Again, if it is the latter, should that not prompt you to do research, instead of proudly announcing to the world that you do not know who Gazza is?  A Namibian who does not know who Gazza is? I am honestly puzzled. This may need a whole research paper to understand this phenome.

Last week’s edition of Industry Loop proved we do not value our own, something I have been saying for a while. 

We take zero pride in what is Namibian. 

For years I have been highlighting this plague on this platform. I had secretly hoped that after almost seven years of this opinion piece with this esteemed publication, this status miraculously changed. 

Sadly, I was wrong; we are nowhere near reform. It is actually deep. Last week’s edition of Industry Loop also proved there has been no political willpower since independence to advance, industrialise and amplify the arts and entertainment industry.  If there was political willpower to advance, industrialise and amplify the arts and entertainment industry, youth unemployment would be a non-starter. 

If there was political willpower, we would have had permanent gigantic Hollywood-style film sets, employing thousands of Namibians.

 Namibia would have been home to a couple of Grammy award-winning personalities by now. 

I guess someone will probably proudly ask, what is Grammy?

I rest my case!

* Until the next Loop, we say #GMTM

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