Stella Kavendjii

Stella Tjazuko !Naruses is a popular Namibian musician. She was born in Omaruru, Namibia and raised in the township of Mondesa, Swakopmund.STELLA is one of the many impressionable artists of the Namibian music breeds, but an individual in her own right. She is praised for her wildly inventive presentations in music and respected for her down-to-earth personality. With her grace, beauty, charm, and gift for entertaining, STELLA has become a bona fide star and a Namibian music icon.

Born STELLA MARIE TJAZUKO !Naruses on the 25th of July in Omaruru and influenced by the likes of the late South African songstress Brenda Fassie and country music legend; Dolly Parton, STELLA set her heart on music. With a strong desire to become a successful musician, she joined her high school choir and also took part in local music talent shows. A persistent drive that ultimately lead to a break- through in her musical career. While participating in the popular national Tafel Lager Open Mic competition, she was approach by her long time producer, Steven !Naruseb, with an idea of helping her to release her own album. She was later introduced to Phura, another talented and acclaimed artist and the two started performing together.

STELLA released her debut album, titled “Kapepo” in April 2004, which received major media exposure with substantial public response and making the album title track; Kapepo” an instant anthem. The success of the album grant her a nomination in the best afro-pop category of the 2004 Sanlam/NBC Music Awards followed by an acclaimed nomination in the Best Female Artist: Southern African category of the 2005 Kora African Awards.

come a successful musician, she joined her high school choir and also took part in local music talent shows. A persistent drive that ultimately lead to a break- through in her musical career. While participating in the popular national Tafel Lager Open Mic competition, she was approach by her long time producer, Steven !Naruseb, with an idea of helping her to release her own album. She was later introduced to Phura, another talented and acclaimed artist and the two started performing together.

In 2006, STELLA returned with her 2nd album “Okurama Kwe Temba” under the stewardship of Steven !Naruseb. In the same year an invitation was extended to her to record songs with Allan Auriant, 2005 Kora African Award winner of the Best Male Artist: East Africa category. In addition, the Nelson Mandela Centre for African Culture, a parastatal body operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Arts and Culture in Mauritius (and whose core objective is to preserve and promote African culture in Mauritius), invited STELLA to be the guest artist during the country’s African Day Celebrations. These achievements offered STELLA continental exposure, and also gained her recognition as a true Namibian music ambassador.

The acclaim of “Okurama Kwe Temba” pulled through 2007 and the title track earned STELLA a nomination in the Best Afro-pop category of the December 2007 Sanlam NBC Music Awards. And again the same album earned her two nominations in the Ongwediva Namibian music awards 3 May 2008 in the categories of Best People’s choice and Best Oviritje. And again in the same year she and her crew members of the WMP music production wrote the Namibian Aids Testing day song.

Her third album titled “Uaripi” has been dropped on the 5th of December 2008 and is very much in demand. And to prove her achievements STELLA has been the chosen one to represent Namibia at the MMINO MUSIC MIX FESTIVAL IN DURBAN FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA on the 24&25 SEPTEMBER 2009 after a live band performance audition has been held at the NATIONAL THEATRE OF NAMIBIA (NTN).At this event Stella shared the stage with big well known artist around Southern Africa namely Oliver Mtukudzi, Hugh Masekela, Ray Phiri, Johnny Clegg, Ladysmith Black Mambaso, Sangomotha and many more. This album has been nominated in two categories at the Sanlam and NBC music awards 2009(Best House and Best kwasa kwasa). She also took part in The Last Band Standing Competition held at National Theatre of Namibia 2011. She than took part in a production called A Sistah Thang Divas Night Out that were organised by the National Theatre Of Namibia. This was a contribution to the annual Women Summit in August 2011 alongside other top Namibian female artists and guest artist Prudence Katomene- Mbofana from Zimbabwe.

She released her fourth album titled Tjiuhendjivanga Ndjesa end of August 2011 that was laughed on the 24th of December at Swakopmund 2011 .This album has earn her two nominated in two categories in the NAMA awards 2012 (best soukous/kwasa) &best female artist of the year). Stella did a charity show in December 2012 for the people with disabilities that were held by the municipality of Swakopmund to congratulate Johanna Benson on her achievement

Stella released her Fifth album titled Motherless Child on the fifth of Nov 2012.This album was recorded at Welwitschia Music Production by Steven !Naruseb. This album earned her four nominations in the NAMA music awards 2013 (Best Female artist of the year, Best Oviritje, Best damara punch and Best gospel).She collaborated two tracks with Apostle Jimmy from Malawi one of the song won an award in the NAMA 2014 for BEST NONE ALBUM SINGLE song titled God will Fight my battles. Stella is one of the artist that wrote the song for the SOUTHERN AFRICA INTER MUNICIPAL GAMES(Swakopmund,2013).Stella made a jingle for Pamtengo radio,based in Botswana for the program of Dalom Queen. Pamtengo radio is promoting Southern African music in London. LOVE HAS AN OWNER,(2015) was her first full afro gospel album.She is currently busy working on her new album.