Jackson Kaujeua Senior
Jackson Kaujeua (3 July 1953 – 27 May 2010) was a Namibian musician, composer and gospel singer, and a veteran of the Namibian struggle for independence. He sang in various Namibian languages including Herero, Nama/Damara, Oshiwambo, Afrika...ans and English etc.
He was born Jackson Muningandu Kaujeua, a member of the Herero ethnic group in !Huns, a village near Tses in the Karas Region of Namibia (Tses is 80 km from Keetmanshoop. Later, he gave up an education as a priest at the mission school of Otjimbingwe after he came in touch with the songs of gospels singers like Mahalia Jackson, whose human rights-related lyrics inspired him.
In 1973, he started studying music at the Dorkay Art & Music College for talented Non-Whites in South Africa. However, he was soon expelled from the country for anti-apartheid activism, and went into exile in 1974. After a short time in Botswana, the SWAPO-resistance movement (with which he was associated with until his death) helped him to move to the UK, where he soon became the lead singer of the group Black Diamond. International success followed with songs such as "Winds of Change".
Having lived as a teacher in an Angolan refugee camp from 1979 to early 80s and later in Sweden, he returned to Namibia before independence in 1990, where he celebrated great successes with his music, especially with !Gnubu !Nubus (Damara: 'short and round'). In the late 1990s, he was still one of the best-known Namibian musicians. He published his autobiography called, Tears over the Deserts. Tears over the Deserts tells the life of the young Jackson Kaujeua Sr until he leaves his motherland to go into exile.
Kaujeua died on 27 May 2010 at the age of 56. However, his legacy still lives on.
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He was born Jackson Muningandu Kaujeua, a member of the Herero ethnic group in !Huns, a village near Tses in the Karas Region of Namibia (Tses is 80 km from Keetmanshoop. Later, he gave up an education as a priest at the mission school of Otjimbingwe after he came in touch with the songs of gospels singers like Mahalia Jackson, whose human rights-related lyrics inspired him.
In 1973, he started studying music at the Dorkay Art & Music College for talented Non-Whites in South Africa. However, he was soon expelled from the country for anti-apartheid activism, and went into exile in 1974. After a short time in Botswana, the SWAPO-resistance movement (with which he was associated with until his death) helped him to move to the UK, where he soon became the lead singer of the group Black Diamond. International success followed with songs such as "Winds of Change".
Having lived as a teacher in an Angolan refugee camp from 1979 to early 80s and later in Sweden, he returned to Namibia before independence in 1990, where he celebrated great successes with his music, especially with !Gnubu !Nubus (Damara: 'short and round'). In the late 1990s, he was still one of the best-known Namibian musicians. He published his autobiography called, Tears over the Deserts. Tears over the Deserts tells the life of the young Jackson Kaujeua Sr until he leaves his motherland to go into exile.
Kaujeua died on 27 May 2010 at the age of 56. However, his legacy still lives on.
Tears over the Deserts by Jackson Kaujeua
Tears over the Deserts tells the life of the young Jackson Kaujeua until he leaves his motherland to go into exile.
Jackson tells of his rural childhood herding goats and drinking omaere; of tr...
Tears over the Deserts tells the life of the young Jackson Kaujeua until he leaves his motherland to go into exile.
Jackson tells of his rural childhood herding goats and drinking omaere; of tr...
aditional Herero life and the ceremonies of circumcision and transition to adulthood; of his worlds of school and work; and the call of music that has charted his adult career.
Brought up by his grandmother outside Keetmanshoop in !Huns, Jackson and his family were forced to move in the 1960’s to an area designated for Hereros under the Odendaal Commission. His life was coloured by the deprivations and discriminations of South African rule but this story is not one of defeat.
Mischievous as a boy and always landing in trouble, he fell foul of the security police as a young man through his refusal to accept the role of colonial subservience. Eventually this forced him to flee his home and go into exile.
At one touching and humorous, Tears over the Deserts captures the lively character of Namibia’s foremost singer.
It is a telling reflection of the spirit of Namibians in times of great adversity. Jackson Kaujeua was born on July 3, 1953 at Keet-manshoop. His parents called him Muningandu, meaning 'the fortunate one' in Otjiherero. His grandmother, with whom he spent a large part of his childhood and early adulthood, called him Hiamipupo, or 'one born in the flood', referring to the thunderous rains that year.
Kaujeua describes in his autobiography 'Tears in the desert' his father as a descendant of men and women who fought against the "armed-to-the-teeth" German colonial forces.
Brought up by his grandmother outside Keetmanshoop in !Huns, Jackson and his family were forced to move in the 1960’s to an area designated for Hereros under the Odendaal Commission. His life was coloured by the deprivations and discriminations of South African rule but this story is not one of defeat.
Mischievous as a boy and always landing in trouble, he fell foul of the security police as a young man through his refusal to accept the role of colonial subservience. Eventually this forced him to flee his home and go into exile.
At one touching and humorous, Tears over the Deserts captures the lively character of Namibia’s foremost singer.
It is a telling reflection of the spirit of Namibians in times of great adversity. Jackson Kaujeua was born on July 3, 1953 at Keet-manshoop. His parents called him Muningandu, meaning 'the fortunate one' in Otjiherero. His grandmother, with whom he spent a large part of his childhood and early adulthood, called him Hiamipupo, or 'one born in the flood', referring to the thunderous rains that year.
Kaujeua describes in his autobiography 'Tears in the desert' his father as a descendant of men and women who fought against the "armed-to-the-teeth" German colonial forces.
!Huns (Ohunuza)
!Huns (in Otjiherero one would say Omatundu uo tji Kaujeua)
Jackson Kaujeua Sr, was brought up by his grandmother outside Keetmanshoop in !Huns.
To those who want to know omutandu uotjirongo (Ohunuza or !Huns): Omozongombe zaanatjara omitanda. Sorry it can't be translated in English.
To those who want to know omutandu uotjirongo (Ohunuza or !Huns): Omozongombe zaanatjara omitanda. Sorry it can't be translated in English.
Tses
Tses which is next to !Huns were the late Jackson Kaujeua Sr grew up. Sorry this is in Herero: Omutandu uotjirongo (Tses) Omondjiuo yomukaendu Uakondjombo (once again it can't be translated in English, however, that is the way the Herero's praised the village.
Keetmanshoop: omokatonua ka kauaende ko muzupi nguatuirika no omure ahaturura.
Keetmanshoop: omokatonua ka kauaende ko muzupi nguatuirika no omure ahaturura.
We are celebrating the life of a legend.
We are celebrating the life of a legend, the late Jackson Kaujeua Sr. He might have gone, but his legacy survives him. Why, because of the beautiful songs and melodies he left us, Who will ever forget "The wind of Change" or "!hubu !gubus". Moreso, he also left behind much more then we expected, a son, Jackson Kaujeua Jr, who will keep the legacy going.
Jackson Kaujeua Junior
We know that this are big shoes to fill, but in you we believe. Yes, Jackson Kaujeua Jr you are a gift to this nation. And yes indeed, his lyrics of "the wind of change" has spoken again as it did many years ago... The wind of change sweeping across the African Continent....Amandla Awetu, Viva Africa, Aluta Continua...
Jackson Kaujeua Jr, is a Folk Namibian Traditional music composer and singer. Son of the Late Jackson Kaujeua Sr. He keeps his father legacy alive whilst building his own legacy.
This is written by: Amanda Kaipiti (Jackson Kaujeua Jr Manager) on behalf of Jackson Kaujeua Jr
13 May 2013
Amanda Kaipiti
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Late Jackson Kaujeua Sr. My Hero, Our Hero. Your legacy still survives you.
May your soul rest in eternal peace. Amen.
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Thank You
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