The Anatomy of the Jukebox

A bright red jukebox in the heart of a shebeen in Katutura is like a crystal ball for the observant.

It can tell you what kind of music a patron likes, it shows you who’s so broke they can’t fork out N$1 to keep the party going and, if it’s just sitting there, silent and sulking, it can let you in on the fact that the spot you’re in is an undisputed health hazard, hell hole or both.

For most shebeen owners in Katutura, individual DJs are just plain out of the question. And for a token N$1 dollar a pop, patrons can strike the mood for the night with a simple press of a button.

All red, all incomplete without multiple albums by Gazza, The Dogg, PDK, Exit and Tate Buti, jukeboxes are Namibia’s biggest purveyors of local music and even give you an idea of the sheebeen’s most played song when you opt to play the ‘Best Hit’ and hear the eardrum-bursting blast of ‘Weekend Special’.

Though each sheebeen’s selection is different, the rule of thumb is basically stock up on every CD by PDK, Gazza, The Dogg, Exit and Tate Buti or get out of town.

At Mary Nangala Bar, the advice is taken pretty literally and her jukebox is filled with all the local kwaito greats but is a little lacking when it comes to women. Head here for a local flavour extravaganza with some Bojo Mujo thrown in.

If mixes are your thing, the jukebox at Nessipark has you covered. Boasting playlists such as ‘Waar Was Jy Mix’ and ‘Kizomba 2007’, Nessipark is all about variety that includes Big Nuz, DJ Clock and DJ Cleo sprinkled with a little Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry…and Demi Lovato’s ‘Skyscraper’.

At Ma Kathi Bar, they lift up the ladies and the jukebox is heavy on Lady May, Sally, Tequila and even Mampi. A laid back corrugated iron investment, Ma Kathi Bar is not short on local women on their jukebox. Or some straight chilling on a Sunday afternoon.

Up to something else entirely is Oluzizi Bar. Comparatively swanky and boasting a digital jukebox with over 700 songs, Oluzizi will treat you to everything from Toni Braxton to Trompies, Spice Girls to Seal, Pitch Black Afro to PDK and Oskido to Oliver Mtukudzi.

Selling songs, dreams and pumping up the party with local music heard through a pair of inevitable black speakers, these bright red beat stores are an essential part of Windhoek’s shebeen landscape and are mostly found opposite a guy eternally rolling coins into a gambling machine in-between glancing at the jukebox.

Like it’s a slot machine gone wrong.