Qonja
Encyclopedia
Tukonjela Haiyambo Ngodji (born January 30, 1984), better know by his stage name as Qonja is a Namibia
n kwaito
star and rap
per. He rose to fame following his hit songs 54321 and Koek n Jam which he recorded with his friend Mappz. His work has been admired and praised by Namibia's top kwaito artists such as The Dogg
, Gazza
and Sunny Boy. His work has also inspired Exit & Mushe and other upcoming musicians. Qonja owns his own record label called Lowkey Records.
Qonja converted to Christianity
in 2009.
, Bucharest
where his mother and father were studying during the liberation struggle
. When he was four years old he went to stay with his father in Luanda
, Angola
. His family returned to Namibia
in 1990 when the country gained independence. Ngodji lived all of his life in Khomasdal
with his father, while his mother stayed in Tsumeb
. Ngodji schooled at "Gammams Primary" and "Dawid Bezaidenhout Secondary Schools" before enrolling at the Windhoek Vocational Training Center for an Electrical Engineering
Fair
. After graduating in 2006, he decided to work for his father by managing his construction company.
. The successful album was released in December 2006. The album earned Qonja a nomination at the Sanlam-NBC Music Awards for "best kwaito".
After the release of the album Qonja took a break from music to finish off his studies in Cape Town
, South Africa
. At the same time he became a very good friend of The Dogg
. He released one single to the radio in 2007 titled "Owela" featuring traditional damara singer Axue, the same year he appeared on The Dogg's critical acclaimed album You Can't Ignore
. During his musical hiatus Qonja made friends with more and more musicians in the industry, including Gazza
and Sunny Boy. He appeared on Gazza's Still The King
album and on Sunny Boy's The Sleeping Giant
. The three artists also appeared on his comeback album Mdakadaka
. Qonja released his first single for his second album in October 2008 with a number one video. The comeback album was released in December 2008 and claimed a big success.
In 2009 Qonja appeared on The Dogg's This Is My Time
. He also collaborated with up-coming kwaito artist Black Sheep of G.M.P. Records
. He also worked with Tate Buti and Jericho on a hip hop song for Tate Buti's album Ekiya.
In 2010 he appeared on The Dogg's The Power of 7 on the hit song "Wazup Man", he would later collaborated with The Dogg on an 8 track album titled Lets Celebrate
released that same year. The album was released on Christmas eve
2010.
Qonja was recently featured on albums by D-Naff
, Mushe, and The Dogg's The Deception
He is currently working on his third studio album to be released around November and December.
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
n kwaito
Kwaito
Kwaito is a music genre that emerged in Johannesburg, South Africa, during the 1990s. It is a variant of house music featuring the use of African sounds and samples. Typically at a slower tempo range than other styles of house music, Kwaito often contains catchy melodic and percussive loop samples,...
star and rap
Rap
Rap may refer to:*Rapping, performance in which rhyming lyrics are used, with or without musical accompaniment ; while an MC performs spoken verses in time to a beat/ melody**Hip hop subculture**Hip hop music...
per. He rose to fame following his hit songs 54321 and Koek n Jam which he recorded with his friend Mappz. His work has been admired and praised by Namibia's top kwaito artists such as The Dogg
The Dogg
Martin Morocky , known by his stage name as The Dogg is a Namibian multi-award winning musician, producer and actor. He's one of the most outstanding artists in Namibia and is considered one of the pioneers of Namibia's kwaito genre. His debut album Shimaliw' Osatana, released in 2004, was...
, Gazza
Gazza (artist)
Lazaruz Karandu Shiimi known by his stage name as Gazza, is a Namibian kwaito musician from Oshakati. As a soccer lover, he nicknamed himself Gazza after famous English soccer player Paul Gascoigne. He is one of the most commercially successful recording artists in Namibia...
and Sunny Boy. His work has also inspired Exit & Mushe and other upcoming musicians. Qonja owns his own record label called Lowkey Records.
Qonja converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
in 2009.
Early life
Qonja was born in RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
where his mother and father were studying during the liberation struggle
Namibian War of Independence
See also South African Border War.The Namibian War of Independence, also known as the South African Border War, which lasted from 1966 to 1988, was a guerrilla war, which the nationalist South-West Africa People's Organization and others, fought against the apartheid government in South...
. When he was four years old he went to stay with his father in Luanda
Luanda
Luanda, formerly named São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda, is the capital and largest city of Angola. Located on Angola's coast with the Atlantic Ocean, Luanda is both Angola's chief seaport and its administrative center. It has a population of at least 5 million...
, Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
. His family returned to Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
in 1990 when the country gained independence. Ngodji lived all of his life in Khomasdal
Khomasdal
Khomasdal is a suburb of Namibia's capital of Windhoek in the Khomas Region. Founded as Windhoek's residential area for Coloured people, Khomasdal still is primarily composed of Coloured people....
with his father, while his mother stayed in Tsumeb
Tsumeb
Tsumeb is a city of 15,000 inhabitants and the largest town in Oshikoto region in northern Namibia. Tsumeb is the home of the world-famous Tsumeb mine, and the "gateway to the north" of Namibia. It is the closest town to the Etosha National Park...
. Ngodji schooled at "Gammams Primary" and "Dawid Bezaidenhout Secondary Schools" before enrolling at the Windhoek Vocational Training Center for an Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
Fair
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
. After graduating in 2006, he decided to work for his father by managing his construction company.
Music career
Qonja started his career as an aspiring rapper with his neighbor Mappz. Mappz introduced Qonja to Fredro (a guy who use to make beats on his computer). Fredro then promised to produce for them, and the three formed a team. Qonja recorded 54321 with Mappz in mid 2005 as a duo with production from Fredro (songs were credited as Mappz & Qonja). Following the success of the song, the duo recorded what will become Qonja's break through single Koek n Jam in early 2006. The song became a very big hit helping Qonja establish his record label Lowkey Records. Mappz showed little interest in recording music because of studies, so Qonja went solo (songs they recorded together were credited as Qonja featuring Mappz). Qonja took it from there and completed his solo effort titled after the big hit Koek n JamKoek n Jam
Koek n Jam is the debut album by Namibian kwaito star Qonja. The album was released on his own label Lowkey Records. It features his two successful hits 54321 and Koek n Jam which he recorded with his friend and label mate Mappz. The album features production from Fredro and Christian Poloni...
. The successful album was released in December 2006. The album earned Qonja a nomination at the Sanlam-NBC Music Awards for "best kwaito".
After the release of the album Qonja took a break from music to finish off his studies in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. At the same time he became a very good friend of The Dogg
The Dogg
Martin Morocky , known by his stage name as The Dogg is a Namibian multi-award winning musician, producer and actor. He's one of the most outstanding artists in Namibia and is considered one of the pioneers of Namibia's kwaito genre. His debut album Shimaliw' Osatana, released in 2004, was...
. He released one single to the radio in 2007 titled "Owela" featuring traditional damara singer Axue, the same year he appeared on The Dogg's critical acclaimed album You Can't Ignore
You Can't Ignore
You Can't Ignore is the fourth album by The Dogg that was released on 5 October 2007 by Mshasho and . The album was to be titled Mshasho: You Can't Ignore and was later changed prior to its release date. The album features the first collaboration between The Dogg and his music mentor Elvo. It also...
. During his musical hiatus Qonja made friends with more and more musicians in the industry, including Gazza
Gazza (artist)
Lazaruz Karandu Shiimi known by his stage name as Gazza, is a Namibian kwaito musician from Oshakati. As a soccer lover, he nicknamed himself Gazza after famous English soccer player Paul Gascoigne. He is one of the most commercially successful recording artists in Namibia...
and Sunny Boy. He appeared on Gazza's Still The King
Still The King
Still the King is the fifth album by Namibian kwaito star Gazza, released on 30 September 2008. The album is considered a flop by many fans, citing its use of foreign languages. Production is made similar to old albums done by legends such as TKZee, Kabelo, Mandoza, Brown Dash and Zola.- Track...
album and on Sunny Boy's The Sleeping Giant
The Sleeping Giant
The Sleeping Giant is the third studio album by Namibian rapper Sunny Boy. It was released on Sunny's new label Yaziza Entertainment in December 2008. The album features production from Namibia's top producers such as Elvo, The Dogg, Kboz, Morgan, and B-Phill...
. The three artists also appeared on his comeback album Mdakadaka
Mdakadaka
Mdakadaka is the second studio album by Namibian musician Qonja. It was released on Lowkey Records in December 2008. The first single The Good Life, became a big come back hit for Qonja prior to the album's release. The album features production from Namibia's biggest producers like Fredro, Elvo,...
. Qonja released his first single for his second album in October 2008 with a number one video. The comeback album was released in December 2008 and claimed a big success.
In 2009 Qonja appeared on The Dogg's This Is My Time
This Is My Time (The Dogg album)
This Is My Time is The Dogg's fifth studio album release by Mshasho Records. It was set for release on October 16 2008, but was moved up to November 30, and later moved to 3 April 2009. The album is the first Dogg album to receive a Team Namibia sticker. The album features appearance by Gal Level,...
. He also collaborated with up-coming kwaito artist Black Sheep of G.M.P. Records
Gazza Music Productions
Gazza Music Productions, also referred to as GMP Records, simply known as G.M.P., is an Namibian music production label founded by Gazza in 2004. GMP is one of the most successful music labels in Namibia....
. He also worked with Tate Buti and Jericho on a hip hop song for Tate Buti's album Ekiya.
In 2010 he appeared on The Dogg's The Power of 7 on the hit song "Wazup Man", he would later collaborated with The Dogg on an 8 track album titled Lets Celebrate
Lets Celebrate
Lets Celebrate, also known as The Christmas Album, is a collaboration album by Namibian musicians The Dogg and Qonja. The album was launched at the Playhouse Theatre in Windhoek on December 16, 2010. The album was released to celebrate Christmas during the vestive season...
released that same year. The album was released on Christmas eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
2010.
Qonja was recently featured on albums by D-Naff
D-Naff
Naftalie Shigwedha Amukwelele commonly known as D-Naff, is a Namibian award-winning rapper/singer, and a former street gangster. D-Naff sings inspirational religious music in the style of kwaito, hip hop, kizomba, dancehall and afro-pop...
, Mushe, and The Dogg's The Deception
He is currently working on his third studio album to be released around November and December.
Other albums
- 2010: Lets CelebrateLets CelebrateLets Celebrate, also known as The Christmas Album, is a collaboration album by Namibian musicians The Dogg and Qonja. The album was launched at the Playhouse Theatre in Windhoek on December 16, 2010. The album was released to celebrate Christmas during the vestive season...
- with The DoggThe DoggMartin Morocky , known by his stage name as The Dogg is a Namibian multi-award winning musician, producer and actor. He's one of the most outstanding artists in Namibia and is considered one of the pioneers of Namibia's kwaito genre. His debut album Shimaliw' Osatana, released in 2004, was...