Stop Culture of Entittlement
Category: Music News Published on Thursday, 13 October 2011 23:35 Written by Super User Hits: 296
by Windhoek Observer
NAMIBIA’s pioneer Oviritje musician, Big Ben has slammed a section of the country’s entertainment personalities he described as “people suffering from the ‘I-Deserve-It’ syndrome’”.
Big Ben, whose real name is Ben Venaune Kandukira says he is fed up of undeserving characters who are receiving benefits and glory they did not work for.
In an e-mail to the Windhoek Observer this week the “Moro Moro” hit-maker said some entertainment personalities, especially musicians think they only need to be a certain sex, a specific tribe or be corrupt in order to make it in the industry.
Discrimination
Big Ben said, “If it is not Black Economic Empowerment, it is Black Female Empowerment. Creating opportunities and doorways for specific persons without a thought for a system or process to sustain it will only leave the musicians feeling frustrated.
“Thankfully, Namibians are now waking up and do not care about whom you are but rather what you can deliver. Nepotism, tribalism and many other forms of discrimination in Namibia are dying out and there is nothing but hard work and sweat ahead for those that depended on it before.”
Sponsors
The artist’s concerns come in the wake of a response to an article carried in an English daily on Friday 12 August, about two of Namibia’s top female musicians complaining about not being in the line-up for the Old Mutual Jazz Encounter 2011.
“With all respect to fellow musicians, it should be said that it is not fair for those companies that would even consider indulging in Namibian music, to be ridiculed by a few hurt souls. This kind of behaviour only discourages other potential sponsors to look elsewhere to take their funds.
Judges
“We have alienated a lot more organizations and corporations from investing themselves in the music industry due to our drunkenness, violence and disregard for ethics and corporate expectations. We have further created an illusion that our class of citizens has a special license to be majestic jesters. So, if nobody will say anything about it, Big Ben will,” he said.
Big Ben explained that he turned up for the auditions held at the Play House Theatre and the rest was up to a panel of judges to decide, adding that “the judging panel’s decisions must be respected this year as they were respected the previous years when they did not choose Big Ben for their prestigious event.”
Genre
Asked whether Big Ben is a jazz musician or an Oviritje crooner he responded: “That is a [dumb] question about what my music is and my fellow musicians have shown very little understanding about theories of music, the genres and their origins to warrant a response. Mickey Mouse would not even bother to respond. All that can be said is that Big Ben will perform 'Moro Moro' on that night.”
Big Ben is not only outspoken, but he has always been running on a different track. Big Ben is one of the most celebrated musicians in Namibia with an impressive record of album sales, as well as a consistent concert and appearance track record.