• By Adolf Kaure

Following South African actress and model Pearl Thusi eleventh hour cancellation of an appearance at an event in Rundu, local event planners claim they prefer international acts due to the country's heavy foreign influence. The event was recently organized by Am Ludgerus Events Management rapper Lioness (real name La-Toya Hamutenya) "Not in this life" album tour. 

Thusi is also a television host and radio personality who rose to international stardom after starring in the 2016 thriller series "Quantico". After that she was the lead actress in Africa first Netflix original series , "Queen Sono" in 2020. Her fame brought with her a social media following of over 4.9 million fans on Instagram, more than the entire Namibian population. 

For the Rundu event, she received a deposit of N$40 000 in appearance fees. Am Ludgerus Events Management also paid for her business class flight tickets, visa and other costs which accrued to another N$16 000. Thusi is willing to pay back the funds and took to social media to apologize for her no show. 

Am Ludgerus Events Management marketing manager, Abraham Amushila said the Namibian market is being drawn to South African celebrities, providing a challenge which forces organizers to opt for international acts. He attributed this to the overwhelming influence of foreign content found in television, film and music which Namibians consume. 

“This has deeply shaped the tastes and preferences of local consumers, who often gravitate more towards international brands and entertainment. As a result, event organizers are almost compelled to align with foreign acts or global brands just to remain competitive and draw attention,” said Amushila. 

“That is the elephant in the room and whether we like it or not, it is a reality we cannot ignore or easily change,” he maintained.  
Despite acknowledging the influence of international content on local audiences, Amushila said the company is committed to promoting Namibian talent and enterprise. 

“At our recent events, we proudly featured local influencers such as Maria Nepembe, Dillish Mathews, and Sharon Tjimbundu, alongside renowned Namibian DJs like DJ Alba, DJ Paolo, DJ Erro, and DJ B-Cool.” “Beyond entertainment, we prioritize working with local vendors across the board. From sound and audio-visual equipment to screen providers, waiting staff and emerging entrepreneurs. This is a deliberate effort to circulate value within our local economy.” 

Event planner, Salmi Shigwedha also believes that Namibians do not appreciate their own talent. 

“I have planned shows for local artist and unfortunately, Namibians do not come out to support Namibians. It is a sad thing. It would not be fair to put all international acts in one basket. There has been a lot of events where local artists also did not turn up,” Shigwedha noted.

“In general, there are just acts that will just drop you last minute or they will not pitch, international or local. It always just depends, I am speaking on both experiences where it has happened from both sides,” Shigwedha explained.

Public relations officer and brand strategist of Samkuza Brand Architects, Kalistu Mukoroli is of the opinion that misinformed perceptions and pressure forces organizers and sponsors to opt for international acts. “There is this belief among many organizers and some sponsors, that having an international name on the lineup somehow validates the event. It makes it look big, like it is on a higher level. 

“Even if that artist is not necessarily the best fit or has a reputation for not showing up on time, people assume it will attract a crowd just because they are not local. And that perception has real consequences,” said Mukoroli. 

He further expressed his disapproval for local artists being sidelined or pushed to the bottom of the billing, despite being talented, professional and consistent. “They are the ones who are on the ground, available, affordable and more than capable of delivering quality performances. I have worked with many local acts who put their hearts into their craft, arrive early, give a solid performance and still walk away underpaid or underappreciated,” he stated.

However, Mukoroli added that he is not against booking international acts, saying they add value when they complement the local lineup.