Namibian artist Panduleni Gideon balances fame, pressure and purpose

As her music career takes off and recognition continues to grow, Namibian trailblazer Panduleni Gideon, also known as Ms Gideon, said that she remains grounded by staying true to herself and never allowing the bright lights to blind her.

With a series of firsts in her country’s entertainment industry, Gideon now faces heightened expectations around her craft.

“I didn’t feel the pressure when I was starting because, in the beginning, you’re making music for passion, it’s what you love. But then things start to get serious. Now, being the first person signed to Sony Africa, the pressure is actually a lot because everybody expects everything you do from now onwards to be perfect,” she said.

Despite carrying the responsibility of representing her country, Gideon approaches it with grace and intentionality. Coming from a nation of about three million people with a widely diverse society, she is mindful of how she reaches different communities through her music.

“Even though I am speaking my own language, I try to use it less and use more English because that’s the language we all use to communicate. I want everybody to feel included. When I was still an independent artist back home, I always tried to make music in a language that everyone could understand, which is English,” she explained.

Gideon, also known as Pretty Vibes Only, comes from the Oshiwambo tribe, one of Namibia’s largest ethnic groups, representing over a million people. While she writes about relatable themes, she also incorporates different languages into her music.

According to a ResearchGate article titled “Challenges Facing the Development of Namibian Languages,” Namibia has around 26 spoken languages, with English as the official language. These include Khoekhoegowab, Otjiherero, and Otjihimba, among others.

Gideon said that she hopes to expand her sound by incorporating other African languages into her music. With pop and Afrobeats as the genres that “speak to her soul,” she places Africa and storytelling for the continent at the centre of her work.

“I want to start using different words from different countries. I could use a word from Ghana, a Nigerian language, or even a South African language. I don’t want to limit myself in what I can do because it’s Africa as a whole,” she said.

Beyond creating dance tracks that get people moving, Gideon is also intentional about inspiring younger audiences to dream bigger.

“I feel like my main aim is for people who are younger than me. There should be someone they can look at and believe in someone who makes them think, ‘One day I want to be like Miss Gideon. I want to do that too.’ I want to show them that they shouldn’t limit themselves,” she added.