90s babies are killing it

Elizabeth Joseph

Gone are the days when we looked forward to the Windhoek Industrial and Agricultural Show at the Windhoek Showgrounds. By ‘we’ I mean the 90s kids.

With events like Kasi Vibe Festival, the Bush Party and several others, I for one am certainly not thinking about even going to the showgrounds.

The fact that the advertising was poor, is a fish I’d rather not fry today.

These other, more relevant events, did not even need advertising.

It was as if they created this vibe and it just moved. The timing could not have been more off either, because all the lit events that took place around the same time.

As a child, my sister and I would plan our outfits and budgets months before the showgrounds, but this time around I even forgot it usually starts in October, so one or two days into the showgrounds event, I heard someone say they were going. And I had an ‘oh snap’ moment.

I realised how important other things and events have become to me and how it slowly took away from my childhood memories of enjoyment.

I don’t want to become all nostalgic, but those rides used to be the bomb. We have somehow morphed into these incredible adults, who love doing things.

My fellow 90s kids are either DJs, artists, event organisers or media representatives at these really amazing events, and that in itself is honestly worth losing my childhood joys for.

I would choose supporting those events over the showgrounds any day. I love seeing how the vibe grows from sitting at separate tables at the Spring Fiesta; and then you see someone you know and automatically join their table.

We are honestly living our best lives. I am not saying that going to the showgrounds at age 25 is tacky or childish, I just think we need not feel guilty for growing and glowing. Like ‘yassss to us’ for doing the most.

Also the hype is far from over, as Red Bull will be hosting their first-ever music festival, African Beats, in Namibia. This event is also highly anticipated and the long-awaited event is fast approaching.

If you have not gotten a ticket, what are you doing with your life? Apart from the great line-up, the fact that it will be at the showgrounds sort off merges our childhood joys with our crazy adolescent endeavours. One can’t deny that this is going to be one epic affair.

Can you tell how excited I am?

For some or other reason, I empathise with the showgrounds when it comes to poor security, but people’s patience is wearing thin. Why can the Spring Fiesta provide close to perfect security and the showgrounds is still struggling? Somewhere, better investments will have to be made.

All these millennial-driven events have me thinking that the Ma 2000s will see things from my perspective very soon.

Every year Namibia has bigger and more innovative shows. That is as it should be, because once we become stagnant and complacent, foreigners will pitch their tents.

The habitual Namibian motto is: “Wait until they think of something, then say they stole our idea”. Not my handwriting.

The moment we change this notion, the more ‘glowth’ we will have, and we will have only ourselves to thank for the outside-the-box thinking and the fruits thereof.

Again, I have nothing against the showgrounds, but as for me and mines, we have moved to greener and more ‘litty’ pastures. Sorry, not sorry.

In conclusion, if the showgrounds still appeals to your interests, then go and do the most. And if you find yourself in the same boat as me, then do not feel guilty. Respect and trust your process.

Be good to yourself and others!