Mr Makoya crafts distinct Namibian sound

NAMIBIAN artist Strauss Lunyangwe, popularly known as Mr Makoya, is using his latest single, |NAM-|NAM, to introduce a new chapter in his musical career, one he hopes will contribute to a sound that is distinctly and authentically Namibian.

Produced by Chris Wayne, the catchy single draws from the character of old-school kwaito while maintaining a contemporary feel, with Makoya describing the track as an intentional departure from his previous musical direction.

“We wanted to catch the people’s attention with the first single and try and make it stand out as much as possible. As you can see and hear, our musical direction has totally changed, which caught many people off guard, perhaps thinking I would go back to my old way of doing music,” Makoya said. He said the new direction is intended to usher in “a new look and feel” while remaining rooted in Namibia.

“We were very intentional with our approach to make it as authentic as possible with our Namibian style instead of copying and pasting what is already out there,” he said. For Makoya, that shift has also meant stepping outside his established creative comfort zone. He said working with Wayne was a long time coming, with the pair having attempted to collaborate for almost three years before finally joining forces last year.

“I have tried to work with Chris for almost three years now and finally last year our paths crossed and decided the timing was right,” he said.

Makoya previously worked extensively with producers including the late Araffath, Solani and Elvo. Bringing Wayne into the project therefore represented a different creative challenge, one the artist said he needed to embrace.

“Having Chris take the lead on the project was a different challenge which I needed to get out of my comfort zone,” he said.

The collaboration also brought in DJ Hoppy, with Makoya saying the combination has helped shape the project’s musical identity. “Sonically, what we have done so far is amazing because we made it a point that every song would not sound like the last. Plus, having DJ Hoppy assist Chris proved to be a great recipe, because we achieved musical altitude which sometimes rarely happens,” he said. The song’s message extends beyond its sound.

|NAM-|NAM, translated as “love-love”, is accompanied by a music video featuring several recognisable Namibian personalities, including Deputy Minister of Sport, Youth and National Service Dino Ballotti, Ilke Platt, Daniella Filipovic, Leticia Kurtz and Jericho. Makoya said the casting was deliberate, selecting the personalities for their passion and commitment to their respective fields. “When we came to putting the storyboard for the video together with Mad Boy Genius, we wanted personalities that did the exact same thing in their own right. Because all the personalities have so much passion and commitment to their craft and sector, which speaks volumes for themselves,” he said.

For Makoya, their involvement reinforces the central message of the song: celebrating people who are passionate about what they do and bringing that energy together. He said the team wanted the visual to communicate the same sense of love and commitment that informed the recording. The emphasis on Namibian identity is also central to the record.

Makoya said the song was created to celebrate an authentic expression of Namibian music and culture, particularly at a time when audiences are looking for music that reflects who they are.

“We wanted to celebrate a unique, authentic word that represents what Namibian sound is supposed to be like, especially putting together a super diverse production team,” he said.

“From our perspective, we wanted to share the love with people out there who are hungry for authentic Namibian music. Also showing and staying true to our cultural identities.”

He believes music can provide a way of bringing people together across Namibia’s diverse cultural landscape.

“And in what better way to sound the alarm, share love and tell the people we are all together in the end, with a joyful song to vibe to,” he said.

While |NAM-|NAM stands on its own as a single, Makoya sees it primarily as an introduction to something much bigger.

The song is the first indication of what audiences can expect from his upcoming album, TYCOON, which he said is now about 90% complete.

“This is just the introduction of how the new Mr Makoya sound is going to be, which will lead to the release of the new album titled TYCOON,” he said.

Makoya said work on the album began last year and that it is scheduled for release at the end of November.

“We are now 90% done with the album as we have been working since last year and ready to release end of November. This is going to be a musical gift from us to you, and we hope people will embrace and appreciate our efforts, as a lot of work has been put in behind the scenes,” he said.

For Makoya, the project is also part of a broader conversation about the identity of Namibian music.

He believes Namibian artists should be able to develop a sound that reflects the country’s cultures rather than feeling compelled to reproduce musical identities from elsewhere.

He said |NAM-|NAM is an attempt to contribute to that process. “With this project we hope to achieve that distinctive sound that defines us, that proudly represents our different cultures that makes the Namibian house,” Makoya said. Drawing on the late President Hage Geingob’s call to build Namibia’s “house” collectively, Makoya said his music is intended to contribute to that same idea through culture.

“Like the late Dr Hage Geingob said, we have to build our house brick by brick for all of us to enjoy staying. So this is just what we are trying to achieve,” he said.

Wi t h |NAM- |NAM setting the tone, Makoya’s next challenge will be to translate that vision across the full TYCOON album. *-isipunga@nepc.com.na *

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