“To sing these Herero songs takes a special singer who can get just the right notes. It’s not everybody who can sing the poetry.”
-Jackson Kaujeua, Namibian musician and anti-apartheid activist
Website by Alexandra Charney
Contact: alexandracharney@gfs.org
Who was Kaujeua?
Jackson Kaujeua (1953-2010) was a Namibian musician, singer, and composer with Herero roots. He originally went to school to become a Catholic priest at a mission school in Otjimbingwe, but decided to pursue his passion for music instead, using his songs to promote activism for Namibian freedom and recognition. Kaujeua was exiled from his own country in 1974 for his anti-apartheid activism and did not return until just before Namibia received independence in 1990. He is an accurate representation of the more common, popular music found in Namibia today, but he also represents the essence of the struggle between modernization and retaining traditional cultural identities in a musical context.
"Shilongo Shetu:" Notice the use of multiple languages.
"Give Me Back Namibia:" Listen for the political message.
Learning from a Herero musician:
Jackson Kaujeua
Read the following excerpts from an interview between Minette Mans, author of Living in Worlds of Music: A View of Education and Values, and late Namibian singer, Jackson Kaujeua, and answer the questions.
Kaujeua's Herero Background
What elements contribute to a musical culture?
Kaujeua's Musical Influences
Considering Kaujeua's claim about apartheid, how do you think colonialism affected Namibia's national pride, identity, and perception of social norms? How did this affect their music?
What musical traditions do you hold on to? Are they related to your nationality or American culture? Can you trace the origins of your favorite genre?
Reclaiming a National Identity
How does the mixing of cultures challenge or complicate an existing cultural identity? Think of some possible positive and negative outcomes. How did Kaujeua effectively appeal to a vast audience of Namibians who favored popular music - a conglomeration of cultures that are not all Herero, or even Namibian - while also staying true to his Namibian roots? Is this popular music style more effective in conveying political messages? Why?