THE TRIBE

A Moment With Top Cheri

Formerly known as Monica Moroki, Top Cheri has brilliantly transformed her brand over the past few years. She went from being a writer, a journalist and even a social media star with thousands of fans following the witty and often scandalous fictional stories she’d post online, to becoming a famous Namibian singer.

Top Cheri sat down with #TheTribeFeaturing to talk music, rebranding and finding her way in an industry that isn’t always as glamorous as it seems.

Called different names by different people, be it Top Cheri, Monica Morocky or Monica Pineas is one of the most recognised women in Namibia right now.

Born and raised in Walvis Bay, Top Cheri finished her schooling at the coastal town and moved to Windhoek after grade 12.

“When I came here I met people, the right people. I started managing Mushe, we worked hard but we had to end it there, I had to move on. My life in Windhoek is like a movie. I still sit back and I’m like... what?,” she says, recalling her first few years in the city of lights.

These experiences inspired her to get into writing, and in no time she wrote her first book titled Modern Relationships.

The book, written in 2012, centres around the dynamics of modern relationships. “Relationships are not like they used to be back then. These days, there are too many people involved,” she says.

She penned a second book, Love, Sex and Flight Tickets in 2017, which she describes as an “adult” version of her first book.

Touching on what the Namibian entertainment industry is like behind the scenes, Top Cheri reveals that it’s not always as rosy as it seems.

“I think there’s a serious virus in the industry. I don’t know where it’s coming from, I don’t know who’s the mother of it but for some reason everybody wants to be Beyonce,” she says.

She also points out how difficult it is to get into projects with certain producers and musicians. “When you want to do a project, they first ask you who’s going to be there, who is involved.

On possible future collaborations that she’s eyeing, Top Cheri has an equally talented African songstress, Yemi Alade, in mind.

Her message for young women who dream of breaking into the music industry is simple: take it slow.

“Don’t let anybody tell you to do it now, a lot of people mess up things because they are rushing into it. You need to make sure that it is perfect for you, for your ear, for your eye, for whatever it is you are doing.”

Top Cheri has laboured hard and long and her efforts have begun to reap rewards. She has received countless award nominations and in September walked away with the ‘Best Newcomer’ and ‘Best Album’ awards at the Namibian Annual Music Awards.

Photo credit: Nawzone

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 99 FM every Friday at 19h00, and follow The Tribe on Instagram @thetribenamibia and on Facebook @TheTribeNamibia.