People of Song: Where Traditions Meet New Compositions

Jason Kooper (private source)

Namibian-German colonial history in the form of European opera? In September 2023, Momentbühne e.V. proved that opera is far more than just complicated coloraturas and has the potential of addressing historical wounds. Now we are onto the next project: 'People of Song' will premiere in October 2025 in Windhoek and then travel to Germany. Revolving around a stolen object, 'People of Song' tells the story of generational trauma and the struggle to find an expression for it.

Co-director and dramaturg Jason Kooper gives all the insider info about the development process.

People of Song is more than just a stage production, it’s a living archive of sound, memory, and cultural exchange. The production weaves together original works by Osmond !Owoseb, Natasha Kitavi, Marco Heise, and Victor Ardelean, while also shining a spotlight on the timeless music of Namibian composers. By combining new compositions with traditional songs, the project builds a bridge between past and present, local and global, individual and collective.

A Journey of Musical Discovery

During last year’s music research tour, the creative team journeyed to different Namibian regions and towns to encounter communities whose music pulses with history and identity. Not only was the purpose of this trip to learn about traditional Namibian music and find inspiration in it, but it also allowed people to connect.

In Omuthiya, we met the Kufamosha Cultural Group, which has been preserving Owambo traditions since 2003. They perform songs in the Oshiwambo language. The group is wonderfully diverse, with the majority of its members being people with disabilities who take immense pride in their culture and their music. For Kufamosha, being part of People of Song is more than a performance opportunity—it’s a chance to share their heritage with new audiences and ensure their traditions continue to live on. Their song Ongoma ohaihokelwa pondjila will be featured in the production, carrying their voices and stories onto the stage.

In Khorixas, the team found a Damara cultural group founded by the late Michael Mutago Doeseb. He founded the group as a way to celebrate the uniqueness of the Damara culture, and also a way to preserve the Khoekhoegowab language through music. Not only are they carrying on the legacy of their father and grandfather, but they are also preserving Damara culture by singing the songs he once taught them. Today, his children and grandchildren continue to perform these works as a way of honouring him while ensuring their traditions remain alive for future generations. Their inclusion in People of Song is both a tribute to his memory and a celebration of Damara cultural resilience. Two of their songs, Tsotsi, which tells the story of someone who pretends to be a friend but is in fact an enemy, and Abas, a song about the calabash, which is an object used to drink water or any other traditional beverage out of will be featured in the production, giving voice to their heritage on stage. By spending time with these traditionally important groups of people in Namibia, the composing team deep-dived into the mechanics of Namibian music making.

Composers Breathing Life into Story

People of Song gives a stage to culturally important pieces of music, though it doesn’t only replicate what is already there. The challenge is: creating new through the old. Respecting and utilising the traditional sounds and structures of Namibian music, our composers shaped the emotional core of Aniros’ story. Not an easy thing to do! But thanks to different backgrounds and specialisations, they found a way, piecing the music together like an international mosaic:

• Osmond !Owoseb, a Namibian musician, composer, choir conductor, and educator, contributes deeply personal works. His song Hambelela personifies grief cloaked in joy, written in honour of Ena Venter, a prominent Namibian choral figure. He also collaborated with soloist Natasha Kitavi, who portrays Aniros, to create Aniros Longing, a moving piece born out of their artistic synergy.

  
  

• Victor Ardelean, composer and arranger, plays a key role in blending tradition with orchestration. By transcribing recordings from the research tour and intertwining them with orchestral textures, he sought to “create a bridge between traditional Namibian music and the sound world of a small Western orchestra.” His arrangements respect the essence of each cultural song while expanding their resonance for the stage.

  
  

• Eslon Hindundu, celebrated for composing Namibia’s first opera Chief Hijangua, brings his international experience to the project. Not only will his composition Omboroto feature in the production, but he will also step onto the stage in the role of Tsaudago, bringing his artistry full circle as both composer and performer.

  
  

• Marco Heise, German conductor, composer and arranger, has arranged much of the music featured in People of Song. His work takes songs from Namibian composers and enriches them with orchestral textures, blending traditional rhythms and harmonies with the resonance of a Western ensemble. The result is a soundscape where Namibian voices and European orchestration echo in harmony. Not only does People of Song feature Namibian music, it also includes a German Folk song. The German folk-song Hejo, spann den Wagen an is a 3-part canon that opens up multitude of possible interpretations. While the original text describes the final stages of a harvest it depicts an upcoming storm with heavy rain and can be seen as an allegory of harsh times that are coming but we have the possibility to change something for the better.

  
  

• Zikizee Hangero, Namibian composer and musician, contributes the stirring piece Membo. The song asks a profound question—whether one’s name is written in the book of life. Its second rendition turns toward hope, urging listeners to release the darkness and hold onto light. At its heart, Membo is a testament to resilience and faith.

  
  

• David Haoseb, Namibian choir conductor and composer, adds his voice through Ma //aeb Gose—a work whose title speaks of endurance and grounding in heritage. His music continues the choral tradition while opening space for reflection on collective identity.

  
  

• Engelhardt #Unaeb, composer and choral conductor, has been writing music since the age of 16. His compositional style fuses traditional Namibian musical forms with contemporary techniques. Two of his works will be performed: Mme O Ne Le Botho (2017), which loosely translates as “Treat others the way you wish to be treated, from sunrise to sunset,” and Odelela (2016), an Owambo celebration song that calls, “Do you have your odelela on? Did you fasten your epaya? Let’s go and rejoice at the festival.” Together, his works celebrate both cultural rootedness and human connection.

  
  

• Erna Chimu, Namibian Jazz, Rock, and Afro-Contemporary singer-songwriter, brings a bold and inspiring voice to the production. Her song Hai-Serute carries a powerful message: “You are the dreamer of your destiny—don’t give your paintbrush to someone else to paint your story.” In the piece, she reflects on the discouragement dreamers often face from those closest to them—whether spouses, siblings, or friends—and urges resilience in the face of doubt. To her, mistakes and failures are part of the journey: fall, crawl, learn, and rise again. Her mantra is clear—Ti daba tio—“Get out of your way, so that you can try again on your own.” Hai-Serute will be featured in People of Song, echoing her call for courage and self-belief.

  
  
  
  
  
  

A Celebration of Shared Voices

People of Song is a tapestry of voices — traditional and contemporary, Namibian and international — woven together into a single narrative of memory and belonging. Every song tells a story, and together they form a chorus that honours the past while envisioning new possibilities for the future.

We can’t wait for you to hear the magic we created with the music.

Text by: Jason Kooper, 2025.