NAMAs to honour Axali Doeseb

The author of the Namibia’s national anthem - Axali Doeseb - will be honoured at this year’s NAMAs with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Doeseb is also the first post-independent black conductor of the Namibian National Symphony Orchestra. Announcing this year’s recipient for the Lifetime Achievement Award, NAMAs executive committee chairperson Tim Ekandjo this week described Doeseb as “a musical beacon and guiding light of Namibian music”. “Doeseb’s flourishing career and deep roots in contemporary, modern, traditional and fusion music is unmatched. His artistic mark and influence is evident in almost all music genres in our country.” Ekandjo said that it is only fitting that this year’s recipient should be none other than Doeseb. “He still continues to play a great role in nurturing, advising and composing music for various scores of Namibian society.” Doeseb was born in Okahandja and came into contact with music when he took piano lessons for the first time at the Martin Luther High School in Okombahe, during his teenage years. Doeseb is a graduate of the Hochschule for Music at Herfort in Westfalen Germany and the Marlborough University in the United Kingdom. He represented Namibia and chaired the committee that was tasked with composing the African Union (AU) anthem in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In addition to have served on the panel that was entrusted to compose the Southern African Development Community (SADC) anthem. Along with Emil Keister, Doeseb founded Ugly Creatures - a pre-independence Pop, Soul and Gospel band. They found major success during the years leading up to independence, as the only recognisable face of Namibian music locally. As a sought-after composer of note, Doeseb has helped to compose various school anthems around the country. He will be honoured during a live broadcast ceremony of the NAMAs on May 3. WINDHOEK STAFF REPORTER