NAMAs make a return to Swakopmund

WINDHOEK, Feb. 27 – The Coastal town of Swakopmund will host the 2018 Namibian Annual Music Awards, after it was announced earlier today by Executive members Umbi Karuaihe-Upi, Tim Ekandjo and Her Worship The Mayor of Swakopmund, Councillor Pauline Ndahafa Daphne Nashilundo.

Ekandjo said that Swakopmund had ticked all the boxes necessary to host the event.

At the announcement, Mayor Nashilundo said that history had yielded positive response, after almost 7 000 people had visited the town to attend the NAMAs in 2015 and 2015.

She added,”Such high numbers of visitors is indeed positive news – as it means that the visitors will inject much needed capital in our economy, as they will be staying in our accommodation facilities, dine at our restaurants or engage in tourism and leisure activities, thus spending their hard-earned money on improving our economy.”

In addition, she mentioned that organisers in their own capacity spent close to N$1 million in the town’s economy by making use of its various services.

“Presented with such figures, it is pleasing to note that the Swakopmund Town Council and Councillors deliberated very thoroughly to see how the town can lure the organiers of the NAMA’s back into our beautiful town again,” said Nashilundo.

The occasion was also a chance for the organizers to introduce this year’s presenters, namely Tanya Doringo, RadicallyRadz.com lifestyle blogger, Face of Tutaleni as well as the 2014 NAMAs Blue room host; Esperance Luvindao, Miss Grand Namibia 2016, an internationally published Poet, writer, presenter and final year medical student; and Odile Gertze, former Miss Namibia, actor and presenter.

Ekandjo said a yearly tradition of conducting auditions for the presenters selection had been abandoned this year.

“Our tradition is to have auditions every year, but this year we are breaking that tradition by hand selecting these three phenomenal women to do us proud on the NAMA stage this year. We are confident that they will shine and do us proud and we thus wish them the very best,” said Ekandjo.

NAMA Executive member Umbi Karuaihe-Upi added, “Live Television is not for the feint-hearted; We need experienced, comfortable people to host an event of such magnitude. We have gone with experienced, professional and knowledgeable hosts for 2018,” she said.

The 2018 NAMA nominees will be announced on March 28 on NBC Television during the Whatagwan slot at 16h00.

Meanwhile, tickets for the event can be acquired via Webtickets at a price of N$600 for VIP, and N$250 general. Nevertheless, the first 150 tickets respectively will sell for a discounted N$450 and N$150 for the VIP and General respectively.

The 8th NAMA awards will take place at the Swakopmund Dome on 28 April 2018. – Musa Zimunya

musa@namibiadailynews.info