EENHANA – If Kwaito music still has the future then Vuzie Kings are the future stars of this genre in Namibia, especially here in the North.
Although the four young performers are trying to build a career, they seem to have the same vision and musical approach and prowess. All believe in the old style of Kwaito, made popular by the 1990s stars like Trompies and Arthur Mafokate and are determined to hold on this brand which has seen a decline since the emergence of another brand popularly called Kwaito-Kwasa. The group is currently putting the final touches of their debut album, Young Generation, which looks set to open more avenues for the young and school going musicians.
“Kwaito does not seem to be going anywhere. It has somehow survived three decades despite that some artists have been deserting it for other sounds and beats, however, when done properly it still shakes crowds,” Vuzie Kings lead singer SdoubleH says. They have produced four singles, which are receiving many reviews on the Ohangwena Community Radio (OCR) here. Their singles titled, Young Generation, The Message, Vuzie Kings in the mix and Engalo Lokuteka, literally meaning dancing, were all composed by none other than the lead singer and vocalist himself, SdoubleH. Three members of the group are attending school here at Eenhana, SdoubleH. He is now in his Grade 10 at Haimbili Haufiku Senior Secondary School while the other three members of the group, Buzzy (21) is an entrepreneur in Eenhana, T – Bantwan (17) in Grade 10 and T- Blieze (19) is in Grade 11 at Eenhana Senior Secondary School.
Young Generations was recorded at Fresh Family studios in Ongwediva while the other three tracks were recorded at Ndexland Productions in Oshakati.Vuzie Kings have performed at many government functions apart from other national platforms such as Ongwediva Trade Fair, Eenhana Trade and Business Expo and Helao Nafidi Trade and Business Expo. They also put up a classical performance at the Eenhana Trade and Business Expo where they attracted a huge fan base because of their dancing skills. They have shared the stage with the award winning musicians, like The Dogg, Mshasho, Gazza and Mushe. The singles Young Generatio andVu zie Kings in the mix have messages for the Namibian youths advising them on the current negative behaviour of today’s young generations. The songs are popular with many listeners in shebeens in the Ohangwena Region. They are also planning to submit the four singles to the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC)’s Oshiwambo radio language service this September. The crew is currently managed by a popular business person here in the North, Simon Nalushiya.
Vuzie Kings have also performed at the just-ended Ongwediva Trade Fair, Otjiwarongo Trade Fair and are billed for the popular Copper Festival in Tsumeb later this year. SdoubleH explains that the full album of 16 tracks will be released next year and it is geared to challenge the old horses like PDK, Gazza, Mushe, Exit and Mshasho himself. They are clamouring for a space in the Namibia kwaito music genre.
“Kwaito sounds a lot crisp mature if done in the Oshiwambo language in Namibia. I think Oshiwambo is another language that suits the genre very well as done by the Kwaito masters like the Dogg, Gazza and other notable musicians in Namibia,”he says. For SdoubleH, compositions would be incomplete without the use of “Vuzie Kings kwai kwai”, another type of lingo that is synonymous with their type of music, kwaito. Listening to the music, one is quickly reminded of the days when hits such as Madibusengby Trompies and Kaffir by Arthur Mafokate, turned heads. Those days are gone but the memories still remain imprinted in the minds of those who could not resist their melodies.
The influence of those musicians and their sound still remains relevant even in an era when other genres like House, and Rave, are symbols of modern youths. SdoubleH as the lead vocalist does not only sing Kwaito, he lives the culture and his dress code is symbolic of a boy from the location, River Side, here in Eenhana, the real Kwaito youth. Those shiny pants with matching takkies and stapora cap that the bidding musician often puts on for a leisurely walk to the Eenhana shopping mall, and for performance, is a demonstration of his simple life.
The beats from the four singles provides some indications that he is not only a singer but an upcoming creative kwaito artist as well. Combining Afro-pop beats with the original Kwaito rhythm, the young music group has produced heavily bass tracks destined to make Namibian music fans sit up and take note. But perhaps their producers need to work hard on bringing more maturity to the young fellow’s voice. Vuzie Kings musicians plans to enroll with the University of Namibia (Unam) or Polytechnic of Namibia while pursuing a music career on a part time basis.
By Clemence Tashaya