Business joins the beat at Kasi Vibe

The MTC Kasi Vibe Festival is underway in Windhoek, bringing together entrepreneurs, artists and small businesses in what organisers say has grown into more than a music and cultural event.

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah officially opened the three-day festival on Friday, 31 July, at Brakwater Recreational Park. It is expected to draw thousands of visitors before concluding on Sunday. Entertainment remains the main attraction, but organisers have increasingly positioned the festival as a platform for entrepreneurship, innovation and economic participation.

Addressing the opening ceremony, President Nandi-Ndaitwah said government, the private sector and communities should work together to create opportunities for young Namibians to participate meaningfully in the economy.

She said the country should move beyond simply hosting events, and instead invest in building a stronger creative economy that supports sustainable businesses.

"Government, business and communities must work together to create opportunities that benefit everyone," she said.

The President urged aspiring entrepreneurs to recognise the value of their ideas and to embrace partnerships that could turn innovation into sustainable enterprises. She also called for continued investment in mentorship, skills development, access to finance, digital infrastructure and markets, calling youth empowerment central to Namibia's development agenda.

For MTC, the festival forms part of a wider strategy to support economic activity beyond telecommunications. Managing director Dr Licky Erastus said initiatives that stimulate entrepreneurship and community development remain a priority for the company.

"Kasi Vibe is more than a festival; it is a platform where entrepreneurship, creativity and community come together to create lasting impact," he said.

One of this year's additions is MTC Maris, now the festival's preferred cashless payment platform. Organisers say the system is designed to make transactions faster and more secure, while giving small businesses greater exposure to digital payments.

Festival co-founder Salmi Shigwedha said the event was set up to address a lack of platforms for emerging entrepreneurs and creatives to showcase their work. What began as a community initiative, she said, had grown into a nationally recognised event, its success measured not just by attendance, but by the opportunities created for vendors, artists and small businesses.

The festival programme includes live music, cultural exhibitions, sporting activities, food stalls and business showcases, with exhibitors ranging from start-ups to established local brands.

The focus on entrepreneurship reflects a broader trend in Namibia's events industry, where festivals are increasingly used to stimulate local commerce, create temporary employment and give small businesses market access alongside entertainment.

With the festival running through the weekend, organisers will be watching whether interest translates into stronger sales for exhibitors and wider opportunities for entrepreneurs, an outcome that would cement the event's ambition of being both a cultural celebration and a contributor to Namibia's creative economy.