An urgent plea to Namibian artists: Unite against the exploitation of talent

To my fellow artists, musicians, performers and creatives of Namibia: It is time for us to unite and demand the respect and compensation we rightfully deserve.It has come to our attention that in upcoming memorial tribute concerts and events to honour our founding father, the expectation is once again that Namibian artists will perform for free. While event organisers, corporate sponsors, and the Ministry of Arts and Culture can readily allocate budgets to other service providers, the talents of our artists are too often undervalued, exploited and dismissed.We have watched as our colleagues in the industry, such as King Tee Dee, Gazza and Ndilimani Cultural Troupe, are rightfully compensated for their invaluable contributions. However, there is a clear pattern in which certain artists are elevated, while others – those who are just as talented and deserving – are expected to give their time and skills without any form of payment. This inequality must not persist.This kind of exploitation is the very reason why so many of Namibia’s legendary artists, across various fields, died in poverty, forgotten and reduced to a mere joke to the same people they entertained for years. Their legacy has been tarnished by the disregard for their work, and in the end, they were discarded as though they were inconsequential. We must not allow history to repeat itself.Artists in Namibia face an immense struggle every day. Many sacrifice their time, health, and emotional well-being, all for the sake of their craft—often at the expense of their families and children. They pour their hearts and souls into creating and performing, only to be treated like second-class citizens. We are expected to continue performing without payment, as though our value is zero. How long will we accept being dehumanized in this way? How long will we allow our work to be treated as expendable?We cannot let the exploitation of artists continue unchecked, because it ultimately tarnishes Namibia’s image as a nation. When we allow our creatives to be exploited, it sends a message to the world that Namibia does not value its own cultural assets. It’s a stain on the dignity of this nation and a blow to the hard work that artists put into shaping our cultural identity. The world is watching and how we treat our artists reflects the soul of our country.Stand together I urge every Namibian artist, regardless of their genre, style or stature, to boycott the idea of performing at any memorial tribute concert or event that does not offer fair compensation for your time and work. Do not allow yourself to be devalued by organisations or institutions that would rather exploit your art than respect it.Our art is our livelihood. It is the soul of our nation and it deserves to be treated with dignity. No artist should have to disgrace themselves by applying for a platform where they will be treated as lesser than other service providers – no artist should be made to feel as though their craft is not worthy of payment.Let us stand together and say NO to this exploitation. We call on the arts and culture ministry to set aside a realistic and fair budget for artists performing at these events. We call on corporates and event organisers to acknowledge the value of Namibian talent and compensate us accordingly. We are not beggars – we are professionals who contribute immensely to the cultural landscape of this nation.Let us demand our rights with the respect we deserve, not just as artists, but as contributors to the identity of Namibia. Let us not allow ourselves to be coerced into working for free, perpetuating a system of exploitation that treats us as expendable.*Mich Gaoseb is a Namibian comedian and creative entrepreneur.

An urgent plea to Namibian artists: Unite against the exploitation of talent

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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An urgent plea to Namibian artists: Unite against the exploitation of talent

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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