D-Naff
| D-Naff | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Naftalie Shigwedha Amukwelele |
| Born |
1 January 1974 Ongandjera, Ovamboland, Namibia |
| Origin | Katutura, Windhoek, Namibia |
| Genres | Gospel, Christian music |
| Occupation(s) | musician, preacher, speaker,Actor |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Labels | D-Naff Entertainment |
| Website | http://www.d-naff.com |
Naftalie Shigwedha Amukwelele (born 1 January 1974) commonly known as D-Naff, is a Namibian multiple award-winning and top selling rapper /singer, and a former street gangster. D-Naff sings inspirational Gospel / religious music in the style of kwaito, hip hop, kizomba, dancehall and afro-pop. D-Naff is also a motivational and inspirational speaker and has visited more than 30 schools in Namibia including the University of Namibia, Windhoek College of Education, Ongwediva College of Education and the Polytechnic of Namibia now known as NUST.
As a young boy he grew up “takandeke” a traditional popular fight among the Aawambo young men practiced as an initiation into manhood as well as swimming in the plains and wells during or after rainy seasons with his friends, and hunting in the forests. Time and again he would come back home with his shorts torn from all the climbing and adventure. He attended Eendombe Combined School and later Namibia English Primary School in Windhoek the Capital City of Namibia. This was after his father returned from exile after fighting for the liberation struggle of Namibia and took the then young man to the city to gain some education for the purpose of becoming better in life. This dream became a reality in D-Naff’s life however, without his father’s presence to witness what the world would refer to as D-Naff. His father died in 1998 while D-Naff was in France at the world cup performing for the world cup.he matriculated at Augustineum Secondar School and went on to enroll in the college of the arts under the mentorship of the talented Ernst Von Biljorn.He is currently serving as an Immigration officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration's head office Windhoek,Namibia.
D-Naff is married to Dainess Ziba, originally from Chingola Zambia who is also a Gospel artist and his back-up singer and they have a son Prince Ethan Amukwelele and a daughter Princess Ethana Amukwelele. The two travel together on his tours.
He started his music career back in the early 90s while still a student at "Jan Jonker Afrikaner Secondary School" in Windhoek Namibia, under a group called the "Glamour Boys" which was an a cappella group whose five members were all part of the National Youth Choir of Namibia, under the leadership of Conductor Mr Erenst Von Biljon. The group toured France in 1998, during the soccer world cup under the sponsorship of the Franco-Namibian Cultural Center FNCC. After giving his life to Jesus, D-Naff went on to establish a Gospel hip-hop group called Eagles in Flight which later became Heaven's Dialect. After the exodus of the Group's producer to U.S.A., the group disbanded and D-Naff went on to establish another group called "Eagle's Mentality" which became the winner of the 2005 "Best Gospel" at the Sanlam-NBC Music Awards. To date he has won more than ten (10) awards including at the NAMAS.He is ranked number 15 most downloaded artis on iTunes in Africa and number two in his home country after the Dogg.
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