ROCK THE BOAT A very necessary cultural reset
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n September last year, the Ngandu Festival team launched what has become one of the most innovative and game-changing musical productions Namibia has ever witnessed.
Top Cheri
Created as a way to keep the Ngandu Festival brand alive at a time when the restrictions on events began, ‘Rock The Boat’ has grown tremendously as an extension of the popular festival. Anyone who’s followed the “floating stage” concept from the premiere episode will tell you that this is the cultural reset that Namibia needed. Featuring performances by hip and happening Namibian musicians cruising on the mighty Okavango River, the production is a sight to behold with spectacular scenery including the best sunsets you’ll ever see. So while I was a fan of the show from the day it first premiered on Youtube, attending the live recordings in Rundu a few weeks ago was a revelation of the magnitude of the show and its potential for contributing a lot of value to the Namibian entertainment sector. Dream team One of the first things that stood out to me as soon as I stepped onto the set of the production was the actual magnitude of it all.
Melky’s Art Photography
Elia da Vinci
Ethnix
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A dedicated team consisting of a photographer, videographer, social media manager, caterers, sound technicians, executive producers and coordinators worked tirelessly to put the show together. My time on set made me realise that every ‘Rock The Boat’ episode that I ever watched and all of them yet to come are the culmination of blood, sweat and tears from a group of young Namibians with one common goal – pushing the local music industry to greater heights. Unforgettable moments On this occasion, three very unique and equally talented musicians made up the lineup of performers who recorded at the breathtaking Samsitu Riverside Camp for upcoming episodes. From the Kavango Region, Elia da Vinci represented with style. Award-winning hitmakers Ethnix and Top Cheri also made the line-up, becoming the first musicians from other regions to “Rock The Boat”. And they did not disappoint.
