NGOMUCA to pay overdue artists’ winnings

The organisers of the Namibian Gospel Music and Creative Awards (NGOMUCA) have promised to pay N$505 000 owed to 24 winners of the inaugural edition, after artists complained they have waited months for their prize money and trophies.

The affected artists include Gospel musician Charlotte Byl, who said she won Best Newcomer and Best Gospel Praise, and Sr Steentjies Waterboer, who competed in the Best Worshipper of the Year category.

Byl said she entered the NGOMUCA awards in 2024 and was subsequently announced as a winner in two categories.

However, she said she has yet to receive either her trophies or the N$40 000 cash prize stipulated in the application agreement.

“In 2024, I joined the nomination for the NGOMUCA Awards in a few categories: Best Newcomer, Best Praise and Female Artist of the Year, of which I won Best Newcomer and Best Gospel Praise. Winners were announced at the beginning of this year, but up to now we have not received any trophy or our cash prize. My cash prize was N$40 000 according to the application form contract,” Byl said.

She said she had repeatedly sought clarity from the organisers but was frustrated by what she described as shifting payment dates.

“We ask him. All he does is give us far-off dates. If the date he says comes, then he will give us excuses. I feel like it is very unfair that he still proceeds with the awards and calls artists to join the next edition. I am calling for this to be taken seriously and for someone to help us find out what is really going on,” she said.

Byl has also questioned the financial arrangements for the inaugural awards, calling for greater transparency over sponsorship and the use of funds.

“We want to know who sponsored the first edition, how much it was and where the money went. If there was money promised to the artists, we need to understand what happened to it and why we are still waiting for our prizes,” she said.

Waterboer separately confirmed that she is among those still awaiting a prize.

“I participated in Best Worshipper of the Year and did not receive any prize until now,” she said.

NGOMUCA prepares for another awards event amid unresolved issues from the first, with 24 winners still waiting for prizes and trophies.

Simon Musa, part of the organising committee, noted that six categories didn’t get entries, mainly due to sponsorship challenges.

“The delay was mostly due to the lack of sponsors in the first edition and a lack of support even from our own government to uplift the gospel industry itself. We approached over 35 companies and Namibian government agencies, both in Namibia and abroad, but unfortunately we did not get the support we were looking for. This created challenges for us in fulfilling some of the commitments made to the artists,” Musa said.

He said the total amount outstanding to the affected winners is N$505 000.

He added that the money has now been secured, although the organisers have not yet provided details on the source of the funds.

“The total amount currently owed to the winners is N$505 000. The money is secured, and we will provide all these details on the nomination date. We want to make it clear that winners from our first edition will receive their winning prize money and trophy. Our aim is not to play around with our beloved artists or anyone, but to make sure that the awards are there to give hope and restore dignity to our artists,” Musa said.

The organisers initially indicated that the latest date for settling the outstanding prizes would be 2 October 2026.

Musa, however, said they are working to meet an earlier deadline of 26 September, when the trophies are expected to be handed to the affected winners.

“The latest date is 2 October 2026. We are, however, expediting it to stick to our earlier date, which is 26 September, when the trophies will be handed over to the winners. We are working hard to ensure that we honour this commitment and that the affected artists finally receive what they were promised,” he said.

The organisers’ assurances come at a sensitive time, with NGOMUCA also introducing changes intended to strengthen the credibility of its judging and voting processes.

Selected categories will open to public voting, while an external company will administer the process. The resulting data will then be submitted to a panel of judges.

Musa said the changes were informed by shortcomings experienced during the inaugural edition.

“The purpose of these awards is to recognise, reward and celebrate our gospel artists. Therefore, the awards can assure prospective nominees and the wider gospel music community that this edition will be very different from the inaugural edition. As always, one has to crawl and start walking. We learned from our past mistakes. We have come to the realisation that we cannot repeat those mistakes anymore,” he said.

He said the organisation understands the concerns of artists who remain unpaid and wants to rebuild their confidence.

This year, applying artists should feel cared for, including our first-edition artists and supporters. The awards are young, and we strive to inspire hope and confidence in artists and the gospel community. The past doesn’t define us. The future offers hope and growth. We seek unity and ask affected artists to forgive the delay, assuring them they will get their prizes and trophies, as promised,” Musa said.

They now aim to evolve the awards into a platform for developing gospel and faith-inspired talent, with plans for workshops, mentorship, networking, showcases and partnerships to help artists access recording, publishing, performance and digital distribution opportunities.

They also plan to expand to regions like Omusati, Oshikoto and Zambezi that were not represented initially.

Whether that commitment is fulfilled is likely to determine how much confidence artists place in the next chapter of NGOMUCA.

-isipunga@nepc.com.na

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