Inna Hengari, a member of the Namibian Parliament, has announced her intention to propose a motion aimed at addressing the overwhelming dominance of foreign music on Namibian radio stations. Highlighting the urgent need to prioritize local content, Hengari emphasized the importance of bolstering the visibility of Namibian artists and safeguarding the country’s cultural identity.
“Last week, we officially signaled our intent to initiate a parliamentary debate aimed at redressing the prevalent issue of an overwhelming influx of foreign music saturating Namibian airwaves,” said Hengari.
Namibia currently faces a significant economic and cultural challenge, with over 80% of music played on local radio stations originating from foreign sources. This trend not only leads to a substantial outflow of royalties but also hampers the growth and sustainability of the local creative industry. By prioritizing foreign content, opportunities for job creation within Namibia are restricted, exacerbating financial marginalization among local artists.
“This underscores the pressing necessity for decisive action to bolster the visibility and prominence of local content, drawing inspiration from the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC) successful localization efforts,” added Hengari.
Hengari drew inspiration from the successful localization efforts of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and underscored the need for decisive action to promote Namibian culture and support local talent. She announced that on Tuesday, 26 March 2023, she will present the motion for debate in Parliament, urging for its adoption and referral to the relevant Parliamentary Standing Committee.
“The ramifications of this trend extend beyond mere financial losses, impeding the growth and sustainability of our vibrant local creative industry. By prioritizing foreign content, we restrict opportunities for job creation within our own borders,” Hengari explained.
The initiative has received both support and constructive feedback from various stakeholders. Radio Energy FM DJ Dazzle acknowledged the progress made in playing local music, with Energy FM currently maintaining an 80% ratio of local music broadcast. However, he emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between local and international content to cater to diverse audience preferences.
“Although we are currently at the 80% ratio of playing local music at Energy FM which is fair enough I think for the other 20%. I think it’s always acceptable for each and every station to have that mixture of international and African songs as well,” said Dazzle.
Musician Big Ben commended Hengari’s efforts, expressing his support for the push for more local content on Namibian airwaves.
“Kudos to Inna Hengari for championing the push for more local content on Namibian airwaves. Your commitment to our culture and artists is commendable and long overdue. Let’s keep the momentum going for a vibrant and diverse music scene in Namibia!” remarked Big Ben.
Activist George Kambala expressed his appreciation for the initiative while highlighting the broader impact it could have on the creative industry.
“This is beautiful and highly commendable. My hope is that this bill doesn’t only address the issue of local music getting more Airtime/Airplay but reforms their entire creative industry. Yes, we can and yes we stand ready to assist. Danko Felende,” said Kambala.
