Bullet to represent Namibia at World Cup opening

WINDHOEK – One of Namibia’s leading oviritje genre groups, Bullet ya Kaoko, is to represent Namibia at the glamorous opening ceremony of the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa on June 11. 
 
Bullet is expected to share the stage with other cultural groups like a Masai group from Kenya, and a Zulu troupe from South Africa itself. Meantime, such international stars like Alicia Keys, Amadou & Miriam, Angelique Kidjo, Black Eyed Peas, John Legend and Vusi Mahlasela, among many others, are also billed for the inaugural concert at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg, on June 10, before an expected crowd of about 30 000.  
 
The group’s manager, Masatu Thom, confirmed this breakthrough by the group, pointing out that this was made possible when the group picked up contacts with the South African tourism minister when she attended the Southern African Development Community (SADC) tourism ministers’ meeting in Walvis Bay last year. The group then invited to perform at the event saw this as a golden opportunity to realise its dream of performing at the World Cup final. Thom says before meeting the minister, the group was planning to go to South Africa to meet the relevant people in connection with their appearance. He says at the meeting in Walvis Bay, they presented her with their DVD, among the group’s other marketing paraphernalia. Soon they received the good news that their bid was successful. He says he sees the opportunity as a golden marketing avenue.  
 
“As a person, my first gratitude goes to the Ovahimba culture that has made it possible that we have been invited to perform at the opening ceremony of the World Cup finals. Without the Ovahimba culture, in which the group is rooted, this could not have been possible,” says Thom.  
 
He adds: “It is amazing that a group that I started with playfully and small as it was, is now on the edge of achieving international fame.”  
 
Thom was scheduled to leave for South Africa yesterday to finalise their appearance contract with the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA)’s entertainment committee, which is due to take place tomorrow in Johannesburg. 
 
Meantime, as a build-up to the group’s appearance at the opening ceremony, the group in collaboration with the Kunene Regional Council and the Opuwo Town Council has scheduled an oviritje genre competition beginning April 30 in Swakopmund where two winning oviritje groups for the Erongo region shall be selected.  
 
These two are to be joined by six other winners, two from the Khomas region’s competition taking place in Windhoek on May 1, two from the Otjozondjupa Region’s competition on May 7 in Okakarara and another two from the Omaheke region’s competition on May 8 in Gobabis.  
 
The eight winners from the four regions are to take part in the top eight competition in Windhoek on May 15 when the top four winners shall be chosen. The top four winners shall compete in the final in Opuwo on May 22 where the winner shall receive N$22 000, runner-up N$16 000 and N$10 000 and N$5 000 for third and fourth winner respectively. 

Credit: www.newera.com.na