Nga-I back in the game

IN August last year, Ngaihape Mupurua, known as Nga-I, announced on social media that he was retiring from music. He, however, did an about turn recently when he decided he’s nowhere near ready to hang up his hat any time soon.

The Ovitrap rapper plans to release a new mixtape tomorrow and has even set up his own record label – Ovi-Trap Records.

The ‘Do It For Nation’ hitmaker said he made the announcement last year because he felt it was the right thing to do at that time.

“I love to keep my fans in the loop at all times. So whatever decisions I make regarding my music I feel that they should be shared and communicated with them. It is one of the highest values of mine – transparency.”

He says he realised that as an artist he still has so much to accomplish. “Honestly, I missed being on stage and in studio. It is my heart’s desire and prayer to be on stage in front of thousands of people,” he said.

He says shortly after the retirement announcement he realised that too much was at stake for him. At the time he felt he had to do it right or he would become another artist who had lost their purpose, making senseless music and conforming to what was and is considered popular.

Speaking about his upcoming mixtape titled ’25’, Nga-I said it will be a free project and his first project under his record label.

“I am currently the first artist signed to the label, but I will scout around Namibia for more talent,” he said.

In 2004 Nga-I picked up a pen and wrote his first song, but it was only five years later that he actually went into a studio for the first time.

“At that time it was clear that music was for me.”

Being an artist is never easy, especially as Nga-I, who, as a self managed artist, is faced with several challenges, such as shooting top quality music videos, organising events and earning royalties from the Namibian Society of Composer and Authors of Music (Nascam).

@rineldamouton on social media