By Rinelda Mouton
It is a fact that the music of Panduleni, better known by her stage name Ms Gideon, has lately been heard almost everywhere.
She started singing at a very young age, around eight years old. Growing up, she was inspired by music played at home, especially church music.
Her family used to record her singing and dancing as a child, and over time people around her noticed her talent and encouraged her to pursue a career in music.
Ms Gideon started posting covers of Amapiano and Afrobeat songs on social media, where many people discovered her unique talent.
So far, Ms Gideon has released songs such as ‘Pretty Vibes’ featuring Yeezir, ‘Home’ featuring Gazza, ‘Jehova’, ‘For My Girls’ and ‘Dream’.
“I love being an artist because music allows me to connect with people from different backgrounds. It gives me a platform to tell stories, inspire others and represent Namibia on a bigger stage. Seeing people relate to my songs and feel encouraged by my journey means everything to me. I love making music that uplifts people spiritually and emotionally,” Ms. Gideon said.
Through her music, Ms Gideon often showcases messages of positivity, self belief, empowerment, love and freedom of expression.
“I especially want young girls and young Africans to believe in themselves and dream bigger. Songs like ‘For My Girls’ and ‘Pretty Vibes’ were inspired by the idea that people should freely express themselves without fear of judgement from society. The main genres that I do are Afro pop, Afrobeats, soul and R&B inspired music. I love these genres because they allow me to express emotion, tell stories and connect African sounds with modern music influences. Afrobeat and pop especially speak to my soul because they are energetic, relatable and global while still representing African culture,” she added.
Ms Gideon said fans can expect more new music from her. She said fans can expect bigger productions, more African collaborations and music that still carries her authentic Namibian identity while connecting with the rest of the continent and the world.
“The public can definitely expect more exciting things from me. I recently signed with Sony Music Africa, becoming the first Namibian artist to join the label, and this is opening many new opportunities for collaborations and international growth.
Ms Gideon said one of the biggest challenges she faces is the lack of industry support and proper structures for musicians. She said streaming and piracy make it difficult for artists to earn enough from music alone.
“Namibia also needs more platforms that celebrate and reward artists, more investment in the creative industry, and stronger support from both the public and private sector. I believe better funding, more events, stronger media support and music education opportunities would help grow the Namibian music industry tremendously.”
