A brief history

The first attempt to establish a Marimba Group in Kuisebmond could be traced back to 1987. Mrs. Denise van Bergen took the first initiative with the Mulondo and Nasima brothers. In 1988 the group took part in the SWABC Music Makers Competition and won the first prize in the instrumental category and third prize in the composition category. The group split up in 1989 and for many years no Marimba music was heard in Kuisebmond except during church services.

In 1992 learners Immanuel Niigambo and Josua Kapulwa founded the first Marimba Group of the Kuisebmond Secondary School. Together with fellow learners George Naubeb, Zelda Naris and Albert Nicanor they borrowed the instruments from the Anglican church and were taught by Mr. Steyn. They were very successful and at the end of 1993 won the category of traditional instrumental music in Pretoria at a cultural evening organized by the Department of Education and Training: “The Binamawlo Cultural Festival”. At the end of 1993 the group dissolved, as members matriculated and moved away.

In 1995 Albert Mulondo and six fellow pupils of the Kuisebmond Secondary School, Walvis Bay, Namibia, founded the official Walvis Bay Marimba Group. Albert Mulondo unfortunately had to leave the group at the end of 1996.

Since 1997 the group has been playing music under the guidance of their coordinator, Greta Holst, who is a teacher at the Kuisebmond Secondary School. With no formal training and their skills mainly self-taught, the group meets up daily to practice and improve their skills.

As members complete their schooling they leave the group to pusue their professions, but the group lives on as new pupils join in.

Ferdinand Hengombe, a fellow pupil, took over the musical training in 2000 and in January 2009 established the Ondjupa Art Creation & Music CC Company leading the Namib Marimbas to new successes. The aim was to develope percussion music at the coast of Namibia, which included Marimbas, drums, Kuduhorns & shakers. A workshop to build new Marimba instruments and repair them was further established. With his assistant Anrich Geingob, Ferdinand guided the group to perform at numerous events and venues.

In 2010 when Ferdinand unfortunately had to leave the group, Mrs. Holst once again took over. The Namib Marimbas have been growing from strength to strength producing CD's, taking part in competitions and playing at a large number of events on national and international basis.

Since 2018, Gerson Dollar Mwatile took over the Group. As an old member of the Namib Marimbas and the Mascato Youth Choir, he developed a love for music. After his studies as a music teacher in drumming, singing and guitar, he started his own Music Studio – Geleff Music Studio. He also is currently the music teacher at the Alexandre Private School in Walvis Bay. Dollar is also a composer for various other artists like Yvonne Chacka Chacka Mascato Youth Choir, Namib Marimbas and Afroshine Band.