If You Can’t Beat Them, Hate Them

Namibia, like many other African countries, is blessed with a rich cultural heritage that is embodied in its art, music, and literature.

Though we still have a burgeoning industry and it is difficult for many of us to make big bucks and/or reach international success, we have massively talented creatives who are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

However, despite this abundance of creative talent, Namibians of all walks of life have a tendency to put down and ridicule local creatives. I strongly believe that this deep desire to hate on and belittle our artists will in no way help us grow and evolve and it is frankly constantly embarrassing us online, as everyone else can see that we don’t have faith in our own people.

One of the main reasons I believe Namibians love to dump on local mavens is the pervasive belief that anything foreign is automatically superior to anything local. This belief is a remnant of colonialism and has been reinforced by decades of cultural imperialism.

Many Namibians believe that anything coming from Europe or America or even our neighbour South Africa is automatically better than anything produced locally, to the point that they would rather spend their dollars on imported music, entertainment and art, than our own and if someone from here believes they are just as deserving, they are labelled as delusional by many.

If we continue down this path, I think it is very likely that we will find ourselves in a position where our artists are filled with self-doubt and self-deprecation, due to constantly being reminded that they are not good enough, and that their work is not up to par with international standards.

This falsehood is further perpetuated by a lack of exposure and appreciation for local art and culture. Namibians are bombarded with foreign media, music and literature, and as a result they often have little exposure to local art and culture.

This lack of exposure leads to a situation where local creatives are largely unknown and unappreciated. This lack of appreciation, in turn, fuels the belief that local creatives are inferior to their international counterparts, perpetuating the cycle of self-doubt that plagues the industry.

I think another reason Namibians love to hate on local creatives is the lack of appreciation for arts and culture in general. Namibia is a relatively young country that has only recently emerged from a long and brutal struggle for independence. As a result, the country is still grappling with issues of poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment.

In this context, art is often seen as a luxury or a waste of time that is not essential to the development of the country. This has led to a situation where creatives are undervalued and their contributions to society are overlooked, even though I can’t think of a single person who doesn’t listen to music or watch movies.

I think another possible problem this could cause is writers, painters, vocalists, dancers and actors just packing up their things and taking their talents out of the country to where they feel they can be valued, leaving us lacking.

Additionally, there is a pervasive belief among Namibians that pursuing a career in the arts is not a viable option to begin with. This belief is reinforced by the fact that many local creatives struggle to make a living from their art.

There aren’t many opportunities for funding, and the few that do exist are often highly competitive. This has led to a situation where many are forced to work in other fields to make ends meet, possibly negatively affecting their art.

Lastly, and probably most importantly, I think this problem is simply fuelled by a culture of envy and jealousy. Many Namibians honestly just LOVE negativity because their own lives are lacking. They can’t stand to see others happy and they hate the success and recognition that local creatives receive. This envy is often expressed through criticism and ridicule on social media, and rather than supporting and celebrating others, many choose to tear them down and belittle their achievements.

It is extremely toxic and undermines the morale of local creatives, making it difficult for them to pursue their passion and achieve their full potential.

It’s hard to say whether the chicken or the egg came first, but to me it feels like a feedback loop that generates nothing good. The lack of support leads to less innovation and effort, which leads to less endorsement from the public, and so on, forever.

I think it’s super detrimental and also sad as this need for us to constantly bicker among ourselves is hampering the growth and development of the creative industry in Namibia. Let’s all do better.

• Anne Hambuda is a poet, writer and social commentator from Windhoek. Follow her online at @anne_hambuda or email her at annehambuda@gmail.com