Picture a crowd comprising semi-senior citizens — who I would describe as people in their late forties towards mid fifties — Millennials and elder Gen Zs all in one place to enjoy music.
This was exactly the vibe at Independence Stadium this past Saturday, where Congolese soukous and rumba guru Louis Longomba was the headline act of a live concert.
The evening started off with a few supporting acts, with some of Namibia’s finest musicians and DJs.
The likes of DJ Vuyo, Top Cherri, Tate Buti, King TeeDee and Gazlam had concert goers chanting with excitement as they delivered hit after hit, taking them back in time when these hits were anthems on the streets.
A notable highlight of the concert was a joint performance of Tate Buti’s ‘Itodulu’ hit from recent years, featuring Gazza and King TeeDee.
The trio left the crowd begging for more as Tate Buti closed off his set.
When Awilo finally took to the stage a little past midnight, he and his band were received by an energetic crowd of music lovers from all walks of life.
Awilo, who is no newcomer to the Namibian scene, has had some of his biggest hits, including ‘Karolina’ and ‘Gate Le Coin’ become street anthems in townships and villages around the country.
Saturday night’s performance marks his first return to Namibia since a tribute show in 2011 held in honour of the late Jackson Kaujeua, where Longomba was the headline act.
With the dawn of independence, African music gained popularity, especially among the hundreds of people who returned from exile, many of whom introduced their relatives to the rhythmic and high octane sounds of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The night concluded with an after-party at one of Windhoek’s most popular hangouts, where attendees were thrilled by Longomba’s presence.
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