The music of Namibia includes a number of folk styles, as well as pop, rock, reggae, jazz, house and hip hop.
Mduduzi Edmund Tshabalala, also known as Mandoza, was a South African kwaito musician. Known for his hit singles such as Nkalakatha, Tornado, Sgelekeqe, Ngalabesi, Godoba and Indoda which topped the charts in South Africa and all over the African continent, his second album Nkalakatha released in 2000 became the biggest selling album in his career selling 350 000 units which made him a big African celebrity and a Kwaito multi-platinum selling artist to have come out of the African continent.
Martin Morocky, known by his stage name as The Dogg, is a Namibian musician. He is considered as a kwaito artist. His debut album, Shimaliw' Osatana, was released in 2004 to mixed reviews.
Mshasho Productions, also referred to as Mshasho Music Productions and Mshasho Records, is a Namibian Independent record label founded by Namibian musician and producer, Martin "The Dogg" Morocky in 2003. The company is a subsidiary of The Dogg's company Mshasho closed cooperation. The name Mshasho is derived from its original name Omushasho which is the Oshiwambo name for a shotgun. The label has shaped careers for artists such as Sunny Boy, OmPuff, Tre Van Die Kasie, TeQuila, Karlos Lokos, Chipolopolo, Richie and Kamasutra. The label has so far released ten albums, making it one of the leading record labels in the country.
Born Sunday Shipushu, well known as Sunny Boy is a Namibian rapper from Ongwediva. Sunny Boy performs a brand of music known as hikwa, which he engineered by fusing hip hop and Kwaito. He rose to fame after collaborating with Gazza on his song "Koko" in 2004. He increased his buzz with his hit single "Balance" in 2005 when he signed with Mshasho Productions.
Shimaliw' Osatana is the debut album by Namibian kwaito master The Dogg, released in February 2004 through RC-Ghetto Records. Shimaliw' Osatana was the first full length kwaito album released in Namibia. The album was immediately hailed as a masterpiece by several critics, and is today one of the most celebrated and influential albums in Namibia. Shimaliw' Osatana, established The Dogg as one of the most profound lyricists in Namibia, introducing his signature rough attitude style.
Take Out Yo Gun is the second album by kwaito star The Dogg, released in December 2004. The album has received many positive reviews from critics despite the fact that it was released the same year as Shimaliw' Osatana. Take Out Yo Gun was the first album to be released on The Dogg's own label Mshasho Productions. Gazza appeared on the album, The Dogg also appeared on Gazza's Zula II Survive which marked the end of their collaboration.
You Can't Ignore is the fourth album by The Dogg that was released on 5 October 2007 by Mshasho and KOOL Productions. The album was to be titled Mshasho: You Can't Ignore and was later changed prior to its release date. The album features the first collaboration between The Dogg and his music mentor Elvo. It also features the first collaboration between The Dogg and Qonja. This album is more mature and very different from his previous albums. It features a dark tone similar to his first release, Shimaliw' Osatana. The entire album is self-produced with DJ Kboz co-producing two songs. As of 2008, the album is the highest and fastest selling kwaito album in Namibia.
Elai Lineendunge is the second album by Namibian rapper Sunny Boy, and the first to be released on his own label GreenHouse Entertainment. It was released in December 2006. The album features a much darker sound and much deeper subject matter than, Young, Black en Gifted. It moved away from the mainstreme original type of kwaito, used on Young, Black en Gifted and albums done by Gazza and The Dogg, to a hip hop type of kwaito that Sunny describe as hikwa. This style has become influential and has seen Gazza, Qonja, Chipolopolo, Exit & Mushe and many other new Namibian kwaito artist experimenting with it.
Omalaeti O'Swapo was the only album released by the Namibian political kwaito group Omalaeti O'Swapo. The group included four musicians, Pablo, The Dogg, Gazza and Elvo but was actually the pet project of the Swapo party. The group was chosen and put together by the Swapo party. The four artists were one of the most popular musicians in the Namibian music industry at the time the group was formed. Elvo handled all the production duties, and John Walenga handled the management and promotion under the supervision of Swapo. The album sold well, especially among the Swapo veterans and supporters, but was not critically successful due to its political influence. After the release of the album each member went back to their respective solo careers, rarely speaking about Omalaeti O'Swapo.
Zula II Survive is the second album by the Namibian kwaito artist Gazza. The album was more kwaito than his previous release, Tanauka, and until today is considered Gazza's best album. Zula II Survive together with The Dogg's Shimaliw' Osatana and Take Out Yo Gun are considered the first albums to have shaped the Namibian kwaito genre. The album also introduced Sunny Boy to the music industry. "Koko", "KKN" and "Zula II Zula" are the album's biggest hits.
Belmiro Hosi better known by his stage name as OmPuff is an Angolan–Namibian kwaito and hip hop musician who rose to widespread fame in 2005. He is one of the liveliest performers on the Namibian local scene. OmPuff signed to Mshasho Productions in 2006. He nicknamed himself Puffy after childhood hero Puff Daddy,. After doing more and more kwaito Puffy eventually became OmPuff, making it sound more African. OmPuff speaks fluent Oshiwambo, Afrikaans, Portuguese, and English.
Tukonjela Haiyambo Ngodji, also known as Samuel Ngondji is a Namibian musician. Ngodji who is formerly known as Qonja rose to fame as a kwaito star in 2005 following his hit songs 54321 and Koek n Jam which he recorded with his childhood friend and fellow musician Mappz Kapofi. His work has been admired and praised by Namibia's top kwaito artists such as The Dogg, Gazza and Sunny Boy. His work has also inspired Exit, Mushe and many other upcoming musicians. His first two albums are highly respected within the Namibian kwaito industry and has helped change the standard of music in Namibia.
EES is the stage name of Eric Sell a German Namibian Kwaito artist and rapper.
Francois Henning, better known by his stage name Snotkop ([ˈsnɔtkɔp], and previously known as Lekgoa [ləkˈχo̯a], is a well-known South African singer and rapper of Afrikaans.
PDK is an all-male trio band from Namibia. They started off as dancers and were known as The Action Boys. Later they changed their name to Action Geez. Now they perform under the name of PDK which represents the initial of their first name. The group has performed in the Namibian Annual Music Awards. They have also performed in several other reputed award shows and events. Patrick is the lead singer of the group while Dion has a unique style. Kamtonyo is a median combination of the two. The group is known to take inspiration for its music from reality.
Big Nuz is a South African Durban Kwaito music group from South Africa. Formed in 2002, the group originates from Umlazi township on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, located south-west of Durban and named after the car registration prefix of that township: "NUZ".
