Jackson Wahengo – Namibia’s most celebrated guitarist – plays music heavily rooted in the African tradition, blended with contemporary urban sounds and strong influences of jazz, rumba, zouk and reggae – Afropop/folk in a new shape and form – a musical fusion that has proven attractive to the audiences.
Through his debute album “Akutu Hewa“, Jackson Wahengo has placed Namibia on the world music map. His music has its very own sense of rhythm expressed in strong harmonies and skilful guitar riffs, typical for southern Africa and yet blended with ultra-contemporary sounds and flavour of jazz, rumba, zouk, reggae and traditional rhythms and song. It’s a horde of influences performed in compositions full of layers and detail that in a groovy way come together as one, reflecting experience and depth. The result is an infectious and groovy mix of contemporary Afropop and Folk that is yet genuinely universal.
The songs are performed in Oshiwambo, Jackson’s mother tongue, and the lyrics are poetically telling stories about contemporary and traditional Namibian society and politics, building on old Owambo proverbs.
