Maria David
WITH almost every local musician facing financial ruin due to the lingering pandemic, youths in Ondangwa have taken up the challenge to find means to assist struggling musicians with the little they can offer.
Of recent, the group started a project called “Laying hands for the dream to come true”, for a local musician from Ondangwa town, Jordan Shiyuka well-known as Jou-Lee.
Jou-Lee started his music career in 2001 and shared the limelight with popular musicians such as The Dog. However, due to financial reasons, he fell into depression and faced a prolonged musical struggle.
Laying hands co-founder Seblon Andreas Ndafenongo aka DJ Sebby, stated that they have seen the fall of many musicians in the northern area as they do not have a strong support system in the industry, leaving them depressed and some fall out in the industry.
Ndafenongo said this leaves many artists without any financial aid and many people easily give support to the dead, and not the living.
“We are trying to change that outlook, rather than we showing up at their funerals looking fancy and contribute funds to the dead, we are doing it while alive to impact their life,” he said.
He added that due to life’s financial challenges and obstacles, Jou-Lee’s music career started dropping and affected him emotionally.
“Everything he tried doing started not working out for him, leading him to almost giving up as a result,” he said.
Ndafenongo said the project aims to support others in need and celebrate their work or arts while they are still alive instead of contributing at their funerals.
“Let’s learn to hold hands together and love one another.”
He then called on all Namibians to join in assisting Jou-Lee to reclaim his rightful position in the music industry.
On his part, Jou-Lee stated that such a project will not only help him alone but all struggling local musicians far north.
“This great initiative will help struggling artists countrywide. Let us come together and join hands to lift each other,” he said.
