Africa-Press – Namibia. Namibian audiences know Skrypt as a sharp lyricist, a confident performer and a familiar voice on the radio. But now, the rapper and broadcaster is stepping into a new space that brings all his talents together: hosting a music television show.
From the end of August, the show has been running Fridays on DStv’s Channel O as a celebration of Namibian talent, a cultural showcase and a chance for local artists to take their sound to the world stage.
Created in collaboration with MultiChoice Namibia as part of its Ombura local content project, ‘Bora Box’ is directed by Reggie Zaire.
The show is a blend of artist storytelling and street-level conversations, inspired by major shows like ‘O-Access’ and ‘TRL’, but this one has a Namibian heartbeat.
At the centre of it all is Skrypt, a rapper who has been a major voice in Namibia’s hip-hop movement for years. This new role feels natural, he says.
“I’m thankful that I’ve been in the radio game for about seven years or so. What I take from rapping is the flair and the wit. It comes in handy,” he explains.
That balance of music experience and personality is exactly what makes him engaging on screen.
The show comes at a time when Namibia’s music industry is at a turning point. For years, local acts have fought to be on the same level as international stars. Skrypt has seen the shift firsthand.
“The music scene has grown exponentially,” he says about the new era of artists collaborating with big brands more. “You’re not just a musician. You have to be of some sort of influence to get into the corporate spaces and work with established brands that build and add to your credibility.”
As the industry continues to shift, Skrypt sees cross-genre collaborations as the next frontier.
“That’s what’s really going to solidify the music industry as a whole and also create a Namibian music identity. For the longest time, we’ve struggled and even now we don’t quite have that yet,” he says.
For Skrypt, ‘Bora Box’ is not just entertainment; it highlights what Namibian artists are already doing right and shines a light on where the industry can grow, essentially serving as a benchmark.
“This is the type of show that can help local artists understand what is required to be in the international spaces,” he says. “We like to cry a lot about not being seen and not being heard, but a lot of the time we don’t even fit the criteria from a music video perspective or an audio quality perspective to be in those spaces. So this is the type of show that shows Namibians we need consistency, number one, and we need a lot of music. It’s a platform for local artists to be exposed, but it also exposes the international act to the greatness we have in Namibia.”
So far, ‘Bora Box’ has taken viewers on a whirlwind tour of Namibia’s music and culture. The episodes have spanned from the coastal vibes of Swakopmund with Ixa, to Windhoek with KP Illest and the club scene of Otjiwarongo with Yeezir.
Oshakati had King Zilla, while the serene Lake Guinas saw Skrypt speaking to Max Junior.
He also ventured into a Himba village with Page Ethnix to explore heritage and rhythm, before heading to Rundu to catch Lioness delivering bars.
Today’s episode will see Skrypt having a conversation with upcoming artist Miss Gideon, and in the future we will see him exploring the south.
Skrypt says he believes the global audience hasn’t yet fully understood the richness of Namibian culture in music, often dismissing it because it doesn’t sound “familiar”. He says he is quite optimistic.
“I think the world doesn’t see our culture. […] But we’ve got greatness here. I’m hoping we can authentically be ourselves and really show Namibia to the world the way sport has done it,” he says, pointing to icons like Christine Mboma, Beatrice Masilingi, Frank Fredericks and Harry Simon as proof that Namibians can shine globally.
‘Bora Box’ promises to bring audiences closer to the music, whether through behind-the-scenes stories, artist features or viewer-driven requests.
For him, this journey as a host is a new chapter, but it’s also part of a bigger mission: making Namibian music visible, respected and celebrated both at home and abroad.
And if his energy so far is any indication, ‘Bora Box’ is just getting started.
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