The quiet struggle behind the sound

Two artists from outside Namibia’s main music industry zones, Mushe Musomi, better known as DJ Vuyo from Katima Mulilo, and Eugene Kamana known as UGEE from the Kavango East region, say the entertainment industry is not easy for those who hail from rural areas.

In an interview, Kamana yesterday said his musical journey began in his youth at church, where he started songwriting at the age of 12.

“Hearing people sing my words made me realise I had something special. But talent alone did not make the journey easy,” he said.

“Like many upcoming artists, we had to balance school, music and hustling to survive. Coming from a family without financial comfort meant studio time was expensive, professional videos were impossible and promotion felt out of reach,” he added.

“I registered with Namibian Society of Composers and Authors of Music, but the costs that come after registration CDs, submissions and visuals became another obstacle.”

Despite this, Kamana kept going.

In May 2024, he released his first professional single, ‘Loner’. It gained unexpected attention online, especially on TikTok and Spotify.

For the first time, he said, he felt seen.

Still, visibility online has not fully translated into national recognition.

He remains popular back home where hundreds attend his shows, but in Windhoek and beyond, he is still trying to break through.

Meanwhile, DJ Vuyo, who also did not have an easy upbringing, says: “I began locally as well, teaching myself production, recording my own music and performing wherever possible.”

Around 2015, he made a decision to take music seriously.

That decision came with sacrifices: travelling, collaborating, facing rejection and often funding his own work while trying to survive.

Being from a region that is often overlooked added to the struggle, he says.

“There were moments when my music did not perform as expected, and times when I felt invisible. But slowly, the sound began to travel beyond Katima Mulilo. The idea is to remain opportunity ready and take on gigs when you can collaborate and market your brand. This is what keeps me going,” he adds.

Today, DJ Vuyo is known across the country. But his success did not come quickly, nor did it come easily. He says it came after years of patience, discipline and belief.

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