Oghetto ya Mahai pleads for help

Auleria Wakudumo

Veteran musician Tashiya Gideon, well known as ‘Oghetto ya Mahai’, has voiced frustration over what he describes as a lack of opportunities for established artists, saying financial struggles have prevented him from releasing an album while younger performers continue to dominate major events.

Speaking to VIBEZ!, Mahai said he has spent years contributing to Namibia’s music industry but now finds himself struggling to make ends meet.

Mahai is known for his famous song ‘Amachies Omatama neenyanga’, omunghoka wa pama’, released six years ago.

He accused event organisers of favouring younger artists over veterans, arguing that experienced performers are often overlooked despite their contribution to the growth of the local music scene.

“They focus on young artists and forget about those of us who have been in the industry for many years. We still have talent and experience, but we are not given the same opportunities,” he said.