Interview by Christopher Laursen

 

Namibian-Dutch singer-songwriter Shishani took some time from her busy schedule working on an album slated for release later this year, collaborating with hip hop artists, and performing live to speak to Sound Addictions’ curator Christopher Laursen about Namibian music and history, social consciousness, and some recent music from her home country, Brazil and Mali that really lifts her spirits.

Christopher: For me, a big part of the joy of music is exploration and discovery. I discovered your music when deciding to do some research into the music of Namibia on YouTube. I was really amazed by the vibrant music scene there, and was especially delighted to find your music. For those unfamiliar with Namibia and its music, how would you describe it?

Shishani: The music in Namibia is diverse, just as its population. There are 13 different tribal/ethnic groups, including the white population of Afrikaners and German descendants who all have their specific musics. There is tribal music played at specific communal events, there is the mix between traditional and modern instruments/sounds (Western instruments and electronic music). You have reggae and hip hop which is intensely popular. Most popular on radio stations and shows is Kwaito music – South African hip hop style which has been Namibianized. Also dance and house music is big in the club scene. Unexpected but also present is rock music, and heavier form such as gothic and death metal played mainly by Namibian Germans and Afrikaners. Also avant-garde jazzy artists are there such as Lize Ehlers. Jazz is present but not very big. Live music and bands are on the rise after a long dominance of Kwaito, however Kwaito and particular dance music styles are most popular. Gospel is also very popular in Namibia since it has the highest percentage of Christians in Africa (90%). To get a good idea on what’s popular check Namtunes.

My personal favorites are artist who are blending their heritage with different modern styles: Hishishi Papa, Jackson Wahengo, Big Ben, Blossom, Elemotho, Tunakie,Lize Ehlers (avant-garde hip-hop/jazz), Erna Chimu, and Tonetic. (Each link goes to either a music video or website.)

Shishani, “Minority (Live)”

Christopher: Yourself, you were born in Namibia and moved to Amsterdam when you were five. Yet you’ve maintained a strong connection to Namibia. How did that happen; how do you maintain your musical presence in each country?

Shishani: I was a young girl when we left; I didn’t understand why we left because it was my home. I always longed to go back because of this. I think my love for the country is a spiritual one. An energetic one. I feel special every time I touch ground there. It’s the space, the people, the purity of life. Namibia is special for my music too. This is where I started my solo career, where I taught myself how to play guitar, where I was received with so much love every time I went on stage. This is where I wrote most of my repertoire, inspired by my experiences in Namibia as I was rediscovering the country after being away for so long. I grew up mainly in the Netherlands and where I gained my musical experience through playing in different projects. However, Namibia is where all these musical experiences where crystallized into what I’m doing now.

Shishani with Kno’Ledge Cesare, ”The Places We Live” 

Christopher: You build social consciousness into your lyrics. Tell me a bit about the issues that concern you most, and how you address them in optimistic ways through your music.

Shishani: There is alot that people don’t know about Namibia. It is a forgotten country on the African continent. However, so much has taken place in this huge country with its population of only two million. Finnish missionaries arrived in 1870s. Then Germans colonized the country. And after the First World War, Namibia was occupied by South Africa until 1990. What only a few people know is that the first genocide and concentration camps of Germany took place in Namibia, exterminating 80% of the Herero and Nama population. This has been silenced. The Namibia was illegally occupied by South Africa for 80 years, which entailed the rule of apartheid for from roughly 1950 ending only in 1990. The scars of apartheid are still strongly felt in Namibian society today. Namibia ranks among the highest in income inequality and is a society challenged with extreme gender-based violence. Also the effects of HIV are very present in everyday life.

I am the child of a black mother and white father who married during apartheid. They have always been socially engaged people, fighting for justice and equality. I was raised to be socially aware and to be critical and to do my best for myself and others. This has been important in my way of seeing life and what I want to do. Music is my key to express matters that matter to me, and I stand for equality for all people and for our surrounding, our environment. Whatever I can say or do to work on that, I’d gladly do. But my music is also personal, just about my own experiences, or things from other people’s lives that inspire me.

Watch more on the German genocide in Namibia in this BBC documentary.

Shishani, “Raining Words”

Christopher: Sound Addictions is all about uplifting music. What music – from any genre, any part of the world, any time period – lifts you up, puts you in a great mood?

Shishani: There is so much music that lifts me up!! But right now I will mention the following artists:

Jackson Wahego, “Kalomoh” (Namibia/Switzerland, 2012)

Renata Rosa, “Marcha do donzil” (Brazil, 2010)

Fatoumata Diawara, “Bissa” (Mali/Côte d’Ivoire/France, 2011)

Check out more videos by Shishani in our Midweek New Music post about her from March 6th. Click here.

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>via: http://soundaddictions.com/2013/03/28/interview-shishani/