Namibian Afro Pop legend Faizel MC used to be a big deal back in the day when he was signed by Ogopa Butterfly. He is considered by many for being at the forefront of Namibian Afro Pop and was once its most recognisable artists.
Over the past few years his hits slowed down, he became less popular and seemingly disappeared from the Namibian music scene. Unwrap.online caught up with Faizel MC as he reflected on his time in the Namibian music industry and where he sees it going.
The former Ogopa butterfly artist says he is still alive and kicking and that he is a business man now and is based in Kenya and Berlin and is taking care of his family now that he is a married man. “I am around and live and kicking. I am now Based in Berlin and Uganda where I am taking care of my family in Berlin and taking care of my businesses in Uganda. I have been up and down and around the world traveling till I started business,” he said.
As for the music, he says he never stopped doing music and his fans can expect something soon from him. ” I am still very much into music and my people will hear from me soon. As you all know, I’ve always helped lots of young talent. So from history I made Gal Level, discovered my brother Karlos loco, made a breakthrough song with my brother Tate Buti, worked with the legends The Dogg, Gazza, Sunny boy and many more. I later I discovered my boy Smokey the white boy who took over the Namibian rap section,” he shared.
He said he was always fond of the times when he performed for his Namibian fans. “I always cherished the days I went on stage and my fans went crazy shouting ‘Faizel ni moto’ and the support they showed. I cherish the times I worked with my brothers The Dogg, Gazza , Sunny Boy and Freeda and Daphne. And many others. We had great times,” he stated.
Faizel MC has since started his own record label called RuffnTuff Records among many of his businesses. ” I am currently building a legacy and started a record company called RuffnTuff Records, and own a tour company and I also own a hostel and many family businesses. So soon I will go back into recording my other songs that always wanted to make for my people,” he said.
He believes that the Namibian music industry is not at the growth it is supposed to be and suggested that more artist should aim to sell their music outside Namibian borders. “The industry is not bad and I have followed it closely but seeing that it’s not gaining the power it should be having by now. These guys need to get out and sell Namibian music outside to other countries and do many collaborations. I am here to help if they need artists from this side as many are very close to RuffnTuff Records. I see there is still a lot of bubble gum music which means artists are making songs to hit for survival and putting food on the table but not to grow the industry,” he said. He is a huge fan of many Namibian artists and is particularly impressed by Kalux. “The artists I still like are The Dogg, Gazza, Oteya, Sally Boss Madam and Tate Buti. I have also seen there is this new guy I like his music kalux. He is a good singer,” he said.
Faizel MC says he respects the Namibian Annual Music Awards (NAMA) and said he deserves an award from the NAMAs even though he is a foreign artist. “The NAMAs have always respected me and my team and I have always liked what they do, it’s just that they never gave me my recognition and hand me awards that were mine or even a best foreign Namibian artist award but I would always work with them any time. They have done good for Namibian music, no doubt,” he said.
In 2005 Faizel MC released his album ‘Days Go By’ which included hits like ‘Best of Both Worlds’, ‘Chunga mocho’, ‘Senrita’ and ‘Kata. Born Fauz Bashir to a Ugandan mother and a Tanzanian father in Kenya, Faizel MC lived in Uganda all his life where he completed his secondary education until he moved to Namibia.
