THE TRIBE

#TheTribeExclusive featuring Nga - I

This Namibian rapper at one point announced his imminent departure from the music industry. Fortunately for his fans, Nga-I has since reiterated that he will still be making music for a long time to come. Sitting down with #TheTribeExclusive, the chief of OviTrap talks about his new direction in music and his new role as a father. through a rough time in his life and needed to take time out to remember why he was doing what he was doing. To remember and rediscover the meaning of music to him.

“I just wanted to quit, I wanted to be more responsible. It comes with growth. I’ve studied the game, I’ve seen a lot of people, we’ve had the little wings, I’ve seen people have the flame and then let it die out, you know what I mean. I was moving a bit too fast. You know if it happens too fast – easy come, easy go,” he says.

Doing it for Nation and the nation “It’s different, it’s special. It’s real, she’s really there,” he says on what fatherhood has meant in the first few months of his daughter’s life.

While music has its perks, the rapper did not want to be part of the music industry anymore. He points out behind-the-scenes issues that made him lose interest.

He especially wants to work with young rappers who are passionate about OviTrap. Fatherhood affected him so much that he dedicated his project ‘Nation’ to his daughter who goes by the same name. Clearly smitten with the little one, he says: “I want her to have some sort of letter from me, something that will show her what I was going through at the time because we never know what the future has in store. So this is a kind of ‘will’ that I’m leaving her with.” The legacy he wants to leave for his daughter is not the only one he is working on. Nga-I is also passionate about mentoring young artists following in his footsteps. He especially wants to work with young rappers who are passionate about Ovi-Trap. “Ovi-Trap has always existed. I was just blessed enough and lucky enough to be used as the vessel to bring it out. So even if I leave the industry, the legacy must continue. There are still messages that have to touch people out there and these messages need to be delivered by someone. Maybe even a child from Omaheke has something to say.” Time out Nga-I’s decision to quit music came after he went “It’s a lot of scheming. It’s supposed to be about passion but now it seems a bit too artificial. You know that when you do certain things, when you say certain things, when you work with certain people. It doesn’t leave any room for passion, but passion is what is going to inspire a child somewhere.” Looking to the future With his talk of leaving the industry a thing of the past now, Nga-I plans on continuing on a path of authenticity. He wants to start a record label of his own one day and groom the next generation of musicians in Namibia. He also plans on taking his album ‘Nation’ to all corners of Namibia and most importantly, he plans to put his family first. Always. Watch The Tribe on One Africa TV (GoTV 90, DStv 284, DStv Now, TV2Africa.com) every Friday at 21h30 and repeat shows on Wednesdays at 07h00 and on Saturdays at 17h30. Alternatively, listen to The Tribe on 99FM every Friday at 19h00, and follow The Tribe on Instagram @thetribenamibia and on Facebook @TheTribeNamibia.