Khadijah - getting it right

I am pretty sure that the statement 'if at first you don't succeed, try again' is nothing new to you. When it comes to achieving your dreams and getting recognition for doing so, all I can advise you is to never underestimate the power of time.From Oprah Winfrey's gloomy upbringing to Bill Gates' unsuccessful business endeavours, these people have been through the chopper, and came out better than before. Their stories stress one of the most important lessons of all: never ever give up. Khadijah, an up-and-coming entertainer who is a Jill of all trades, speaks to tjil about having the worst stage performance ever and how it helped her make her art better and grow her brand. Khadijah was one of the guest performers at the first ladies edition of Beat Street this year in March. The singer recalls having a terrible performance that was triggered by little preparation and seeing someone she didn't expect in the crowd. “It was bad, my vocals were bad and I was very nervous… it felt as if someone was clutching my throat. I reflected afterwards and I had all these questions but I concluded that it was a lack of preparation, because one needs to spend a certain time on things so that everything comes natural to your body - whether it's hitting a note or seeing someone in the crowd,” she said. Khadijah said she gained confidence to get back on the performing stage by learning a few tricks, which include being able to maintain her calm while performing. She says being able to control your emotions and thoughts is key. Her very first solo show which took place last week at Night under the Stars, she says was a great milestone in her career, and showed she can trust herself. The artist said that one should always try to be the best version of oneself and not compete with the next person. “Don't fake the confidence, people can smell it. You have to actually believe in yourself otherwise your brain will shut down and you will set yourself up for failure. Have positive thoughts, have keywords for you to always remember, even when performing,” she says. According to the poet, actor, dancer and DJ, being comfortable with who you are and your craft can reward you and you will own your spotlight. She says an artist has to be confident with themselves and this comes from having knowledge, which you get by practicing your art. “Sometimes you hear the whispers of what people have to say about your work and that personally feeds my insecurities because at the end of the day I'm still human. Always trust yourself and make time to get it right. Don't rush things because you won't have time to be in the moment,” she said. Khadijah, who is an English student at the Namibia University of Science and Technology, also had the opportunity to take part in this year's Spring Fiesta. She is known for her unique sense of fashion and colourful hairstyles and hopes to one day run a business that encompasses all her talents and styles. She recalls having a love for art from a young age when she was a shy little girl whose first time on stage was as a flower in a school play.“I didn't have the means to express myself, I didn't even know if I could until I met local artists who made me realise I too could be one. This is not a hobby anymore, I put too much time into this,” she said.Khadijah hopes to one day become an international artist, representing Namibia and showcasing local talent to the rest of the world. She believes that local entertainment can also be exported and be celebrated elsewhere and this will be a norm. This, according to Khadijah can be achieved if local artists drop their egos and are willing to work together, and also for the public to support and not break them down.“We as entertainers need to support each other. The public also needs to stop breaking us down because if, for instance, Gazza gets his million views on the video which will be the first for Namibia, this paves way for the next artist and that's how we gain recognition. Doors will open for us as a country. We artists also need to network more with the outside world,” she said.Khadijah concluded by saying that as an artist one cannot be perfect but you must strive to always bringing out your best.“As an artist, your point of reference should always be you aiming to better your last performance, or portrait, or movie script. Always aim to tell your story better and have honest intentions,” she said. June Shimuoshili

Khadijah - getting it right

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-27

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Khadijah - getting it right

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-27

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