---

As spilt in the Lira interview, the Channel O 2009 Awards have arrived. They're happening at Carnival City tonight (29 October) and go out on TV on Sunday, 8 November at 20h30.



Lady May won the award for Best Dance Video last year and she's been nominated again this year for the vid. of her single: Ndota.

Last year was the first time I'd heard of her and I was quizzy to know more  - she wore completely different threads from everyone else and strutted a sassy style - both on the Red and when she won.


Tashi: I saw an interview with you on the Red Carpet last year saying that your real name’s Martha?
Lady May:  Yes, my name's Martha and in Oshiwambo my traditional name is Maita so it’s Lady Maita - you just cut out the end and it’s Lady May.

Tashi: Why the Lady part of it?
Lady May: Well it’s because I’m a lady, you don’t have to be old to be one - and people take you seriously.

Tashi: Having won the Channel O award last year - did it impact on your career?
Lady May: It had a great impact - I had to get into the studio really fast and bring out an album really fast - my third album called Pink Chokolate. I’ve been getting more gigs - not only in Namibia but outside as well - the response was beautiful.

Tashi: Your fave colour’s obviously pink? Mine too - lurve it. Why? What is it about it that blows your hair back?
Lady May: It’s a very peaceful colour and I love peace - I love to laugh a lot too and it means that to me. My house, my room, everything’s pink - when I see it I just feel calm.

Tashi: Are you a fan of P!nk?
Lady May: I am - I’m a huge fan. I relate to her so much because she just has this attitude in the sense that she does what she wants and gets away with a lot of things - she’s not a bad girl but she’s tough and a go-getter - she’s my inspiration, she’s very, very tough.


Tashi: Your look and style - how do you come up with it?
Lady May: It depends on my mood and what’s happening - if I’m in a bad mood I’d probably cut my jeans. I’m not scared to experiment with clothes but my main focus is my traditional gear.

I love it but the way I wear it isn’t conventional. I put some funk in it - I wouldn't wear gear as old ladies wear them. I always have them made according to how I want them to made - I take traditional clothes and then modernize.

THE VIDEO FOR NDOTA (includes pink bikini in a pool)



Tashi: Ndota - what does it mean?
Lady May: It’s a traditional game you play in a village, a game I used to play back in the day. My director Suleiman from Ogopa/Butterfly - the record label I'm with - directed the video.

My idea was to go to a village and show how the game is played but he suggested that you don’t need to show what you’re singing about so he wanted to do it in a studio. He said that because my face is still new to the continent, filming it in a studio would mean people would see my face more.

Tashi: Oh okay - and the guy in the video - who’s that?
Lady May: It’s DJ KBozz - he’s the producer of the whole album.

Tashi: Yes when I saw the video I was like, “Whose that? Whose pushing themselves into the video?” All the sudsing you do in the blow-up pool - why? Was that the guys' influence?
Lady May: *laughs* We wanted to create a fun feel to the video - I’m dancing, then I’m in the pool, then I’m at the car - it’s just a playful video.

Tashi: It's interesting - I was conflicted about it: at first I thought “Bah! it's been created for guys only,” but then I thought it’s a very liberated girl-power image. Being a muso in Namibia - what are the specific challenges you face?
Lady May: My image is very risk-taking - the people in Namibia, we're very reserved, and the image in the video isn’t but the people have accepted for who I am. It’s been a while now that I can get away with things - just like P!nk.

When people saw that video, they were like “Yah, that’s Lady May.” That’s how I came out - just saying “This is who I am - take it or leave it.” and surprisingly they’ve accepted me.


Tashi: Do your friends and family call you Maita, Lady May or Martha?
Lady May: They call me Kamali - it means little Martha. It’s a very personal name, it’s the name my grandmother calls me.

Tashi: In your category - who’s your biggest competition? .. the other nominees:

Master Jam feat. RJ. Benjamin for Change The World (SA)
Goldfish for This Is How It Feels (SA)
Winnie Khumalo for Live My Life (SA)
Tzozo & Professor for Vuma (SA)
Black Coffee feat. Bucie for Turn Me On (SA)

Lady May: It’s a very tight category, I just feel honoured to be in the category as the wonderful guys in it.

Tashi: If you weren’t nominated - who would your favourite be?
Lady May: I love that Change The World song *sings* Chaaaange the Wooooooorld." And Winnie Khumalo. A brilliant song.

Ends

TVSA will be at the Awards so keep a lookout for winna-newz (ha), pics and the sc-ooh!-p.

PS: Decided I have to plot something radical to see Bleksem without-the-mask.

---

---

---

---

7 Comments