Ndilimani Cultural Troupe for the peopleUpholding the same old values and with new tunes Ndilimani wants to venture into the commercial market and pleads with the nation to accept their journey. Jezzy Nombanza, the operational manager and band member gives tjil a brief history and talks about future endeavours. They were there, they are here and they will be there Upholding the same old values and with new tunes Ndilimani wants to venture into the commercial market and pleads with the nation to accept their journey. Jezzy Nombanza, the operational manager and band member gives tjil a brief history and talks about future endeavours. The Ndilimani Cultural troupe was established in 1980 in Lubango under the leadership of one of Swapo’s People Liberation Army of Namibia (Plan)’s most brilliant military strategist, our hero, late Comrade Peter Nanyemba. Ndilimani Cultural Troupe played an essential role in the struggle for the liberation of Namibia. Ndilimani is the Oshiwambo word for dynamite which was also the late Peter’s combat name. The troupe was established to educate the international community about the sufferings and bravery of the Namibian people under apartheid. Another reason was to entertain and keep morale within the soldiers in exile high. “It’s not every day that people where fighting. There were social evenings where they would gather and just dance, sing and enjoy themselves,” said Jezzy. Some of their well-known songs of the struggle include Sema Ouli Peni and Mayovi. Ndilimani became the voice of the Namibian people as they went to different continents and countries spreading the message of the Namibian people to a point where they begun getting assistance such as stationery for the women and children centres. “There are very few countries that the then Ndilimani have not been too,” said Jezzy.
After independence the group had to find a new role as it was established with a political vision to express the suffering of the people. “We had to change the aims and visions. We started looking at activities that we could get involved in to help the country become better.” Jezzy also said that Ndilimani can never be delinked from Swapo as it is registered as a Swapo company. “We cannot change the past and stop singing for Swapo, it’s just that times have changed and we have to move with them. So you might find us singing about the social evils or today’s lifestyle now more than the liberation struggle,” he said. He also said during the Heroes’ Day commemoration their sales are much higher as people listen to Ndilimani for comfort and remembrance.
Today the troupe has 15 members inclusive of the management. “For one to be part of the band they have to go through auditions and interviews just like any other job,” he said. He also said he regards the band as a heroic one as most of the help that Namibia got during the liberation struggle was after they started travelling around the country. “The message that was spread in the music was very powerful. I have met people who would say that they only joined the Plan after hearing Ndilimani… some even left school. I would definitely say that it is a heroic group and it also had its own heroes such as John Nghaatanga and Aguste Shiimi,” he said.
Jezzy says the future looks promising and that they are coming up with ways on how to commercialise the Ndilimani Cultural Troupe. There is an album coming up that is non-political and non-revolutionary. “We want people to support us equally as they did with our struggle songs. We are still just Ndilimani,” he said.
June Shimuoshili