Midyear Entertainment Recap

June has been chilly so far and chances are you’ll need a few moments to kick back and warm up, while catching up with what has been trending in the entertainment industry.

This week, unwrap.online takes you down memory lane with some of the memorable events that took place in the first half of the year, from fashion and music to the film industry.

We start off with artist Big Ben, who released ‘Let the Music Play’ in March, including the single ‘Army Ya Vevari’. The song is currently topping the Fresh FM local top 10 countdown and has held the number one spot for over a week, competing against ‘Fine Thing’ by One Blood and ‘Mine’ by Chikune.

Returning to the music scene with the highly anticipated album ‘Music and Fashion’, Afro-pop prodigy King Elegant has made a notable comeback.

Following the album’s release in April, he recently dropped the music video for his latest single, ‘Gwaf’, which has already garnered over 6 000 views on YouTube. The music video was produced by Basement Films.

Additionally, his latest single, ‘Ndaya’, has climbed to number three on the local radio top 10 charts.

Recognised as “one of the hardest-working rappers in the industry”, KP Illest began his year in the studio before releasing the single ‘Celebrate Yourself’ in May to coincide with his birthday.

Six months after releasing his album, producer and singer DJ Vuyo launched a music video for the popular hit ‘Dorado’, featuring Page from Namibian R&B duo Ethnix.

The Tswazis released the single ‘Hoa I Hoa’ a month ago, which is currently available on YouTube for streaming.

Possibly expressing his love for somebody’s daughter through his lyrics, Page from Ethnix blessed music lovers with a new single titled ‘Natalia’.

In a previous interview, he mentioned that this song is a special dedication to someone dear to his heart.

‘Natalia’ was released two months ago and has so far garnered over 58 000 views on YouTube.

We are only six months into the year and the ‘Warakata’ hitmakers One Blood have already released four singles: ‘Chevara’, ‘Uvangaije’, ‘Easy to Choose’ and ‘Karundereke’, which was released this week.

After pausing his music career in 2020 and later releasing the song ‘Iniihala’, veteran musician Tesh Lavo has surprised fans with a brand-new single, ‘Della Fiesta’, featuring Athawise and Noro. The single is accompanied by hot visuals shot by ‘Those Uptown Boys’.

Tesh Lavo is popularly known for songs such as ‘Toti La’, ‘Se Atufutu’ and ‘Blow You A Kiss’.

With the role of a DJ being to shape music culture and trends, a few local DJs are becoming creative by producing their own music. DJ Dreas recently released the instrumental single ‘The Serengeti’. This is the perfect song to blast while driving or to dance along to in a nightclub.

Producer Champions League DJs, a rising talent in the industry, has collaborated with nearly all the major musicians, including King Tee Dee, DJ Vuyo, TopCheri, Gazza and DJ Siya.

He featured Ethnix and DJ Roxy on a track titled ‘Available’, which is currently making waves.

‘Available’ is a smooth low-tempo song which immediately puts you in a distinct mood and it’s hard to ignore the base when blasting it at maximum volume. You’ll eventually find yourself singing along.

Hip-hop legend Jericho Gawanab, better known as J-Twizzle, dropped another lyrical scheme with the introduction of his seventh album, ‘The Signature’, last week. The 16-track album features musicians like Sunny Boy, Page and Dice, and proves that the rapper is here to stay.

Meanwhile, veteran musician Gazza also recently dropped a banger from his upcoming album ‘The Legacy’. The single ‘Ila Mutale’ has been well received so far among music fans who are currently jamming to it.

FILM INDUSTRY

In terms of local films, Ombetja Yehinga Organisation’s ‘Lukas’ (2024) will be shown on the big screen in South Africa.

The film is about the trials and devastating realities of street children in Namibia.

Meanwhile, the much-anticipated film ‘Life’ hits screens this month. The film features a compelling narrative that explores the challenges faced by a young couple navigating life’s harsh realities. It features local talents like TopCheri (Monica Pinehas), Mabuzza and Carter Hartz, among others.

Keep a look out for more films coming your way this month.

FASHION

MN creations has stood out so far this year with a fashion show that redefined the essence of style and sophistication. The fashion show took place in February under the theme ‘Enchanted Forest’ and attracted a variety of fashion lovers who showed up in numbers to support the cause.

With innovation being the objective, the show showcased different pieces from diverse textures, including cotton and silk, along with unique techniques such as ruffles.

Leading the pack, Katutura Fashion Week founder Dennis Hendricks recently bagged two nominations in the best event producer and best agent model categories at the 2024 Concur Mentalidade Afro Agente Awards in Angola.

One of Namibia’s most sought-after couture designers, Ruberto Scholtz, is also back at it again, as he shows off his unstoppable creativity through making an astonishing dress from old denim jeans.

– Unwrap.online