By Rinelda Mouton
Veteran hip-hop musician Jericho Gawanab, who is currently in the studio working on his eighth album, says that although he is now married and has new responsibilities, his sound will remain largely unchanged.
Jericho married businesswoman Anita Tjombe in March.
He said his music will continue to inspire and reflect messages from the streets, even as his personal life evolves.
“My new music will not change much apart from the fact that I now have other responsibilities. I now have to be more presentable. I have children, and my wife has children who are looking up to me. After my marriage, I see things differently,” Jericho said.
“I am growing older, so my music is maturing, but the streets will always be part of my music. It will always be part of my life’s experience.” Jericho said he is no longer a shebeen artist but now operates in a more corporate space.
The “Heavens Missing Angel” hitmaker said his upcoming album will feature 14 songs produced by various producers. Final mixing and mastering will be handled by Kallo On The Beat. He added that the project will be a commercial album, featuring a mix of hip-hop, Afro-pop and ma/gaisa.
Jericho has recently released a new single, “Special Weekend,” featuring Kaptein Tzwasi. He said his wife will also appear in the mu- sic video, which is expected to be released soon.
The Best Male Artist at the 2011 Namibian Annual Music Awards (NAMAs) said he first saw his wife in a local newspaper.
“When I saw her in the paper, I told a friend that she is beautiful and that I would like to date her. Some time later, I met her in Usakos.
Years later, while I was performing at MTC’s 30th birthday celebration, she was filming my performance. She reached out to me, and we later met and went on a date. We connected and liked each other. A year later, we got married.”
Jericho said they are not a perfect couple, but they make it work through compromise and understanding.
“We are from different backgrounds, but we always compromise to make it work. I think she is the female version of me. We click a lot. She understands life with fans. My wife is my number one supporter. She enjoys my music and always supports my career. I now have my own studio at home, and my wife loves doing renovations,” he said.
He added that love has been a positive force in his life. “Being loved and loving someone is great. I would want every- one to find that someone and experience the true feeling of love.”
