Tribute to the Legendary Jackson Kaujeua. May his soul rest in peace (1953- May 27, 2010)

Windhoek - As the country celebrates 20 years of existence, one artist who deserves recognition is veteran Namibian musician Jackson Kaujeua, who through song and praise, lit the Namibian liberty torch and contributed immensely to the country`s liberation in his own way.

One of his songs titled `The winds of change` did a lot to ease the minds of thousands of Namibians who had gone into exile for the liberation of their country, and spurred Kaujeua into the limelight.

The soft-spoken musician this week wound back the hands of time and spoke about his musical journey before and after independence.
He said Namibian music industry has improved a lot compared to the past when Namibians where not permitted to showcase their musical talents, as local music was not recognised as something significant.

`Local music was regarded as a joke, it was never viewed as an industry which could create employment and to some people it was even a taboo for a black person to play a guitar,` recalls Kaujeua.

`I remember when I started music it was not easy, my friends were laughing at me while my father - who was anti-music - thought the whole idea was a waste of time and money.

`I once asked him to buy me a guitar and he refused. He always discouraged me not to do music but rather to do law, which I believed was not my calling,` Kaujeua said.

Kaujeua says back then there were no sufficient resources and infrastructures compared to today`s music industry. The few studios in the country then were for whites only as blacks were not allowed to use them. He pays tribute to the ruling Swapo party for his successful music career. `While in exile I did a song called `Winds of Change`.

The song was played everywhere and that is when Swapo started to recognise my musical talent. From there every time I came up with a song they would call me to the radio station called `Window of Change` that was operated underground by the Swapo party.`

Kaujeua`s musical journey started in 1973 when he studied music at the Dorkay Art & Music college for talented Non-Whites` in South Africa. However, he was soon expelled from the country for anti-apartheid activism.

After a short time in Botswana - his new political haven after South Africa, Swapo helped him to move to Great Britain where he soon became the lead singer of the group Black Diamond.

Upon Namibia`s independence in the early 90`s, Jackson Kaujeua had been the most outstanding of Namibian performers. He performed a mix of Namibia`s traditional genres mixed with afro-pop/gospel sounds.

He feels that Namibia government has achieved a lot in terms of arts and culture. He described today`s Namibian music industry as an `open book` that everyone has the rights to take part in.

Kaujeua urged Namibian artists to appreciate what independence brought them and to be responsible and preserve their resources.

Despite the crucial role he played as a music ambassador for the liberation struggle, his post-independence life remains modest to put it mildly, living from the odd performance. He is recuperating at home after being admitted to hospital with a kidney ailment. Public calls have been made to the government to honour and recognise the man described by many as the `Father of Namibian Music`.

Credit: Southerntimesafrica.com