Namibia is set to go alight again next week when the South Africa mbaqanga, Afro Pop and disco legend. Dan Tshanda starts with his series of shows nationwide.

The popular South Africa musician who is riding high with his latest albums, Eewami and NamZim promises to rock his Namibian fans starting this time in Katima Mulilo. He is billed to perform five shows in Namibia. His spokesperson here, Eustace Siyata, of Mr Music and Sound Company, says Dan Tshanda will perform in Katima Mulilo on August 24 at the Ngweze Hall, in Rundu on August 25 , and in Walvis Bay at Kuiseb Community Hall on August 26.

For the first time and because of demand, he will perform in the rich cattle town of Gobabis on August 31. His Namibian fans, especially among the Otjiherero- speaking community and others in Windhoek, will dance their shoes off until the wee hours in the morning at Independence stadium on September 1.

Siyata, who is the distributor of all Dalom music in Namibia, promises the same feverish performance from Dan Tshanda. "As usual, Dan Tshanda and the Dalom Kids will be expected to play their yesteryear hits, which will take his fans down memory lane to 1986 and 1987 with hits like Peacock, Nesindande and Tshokotshoko, which set him on the lane of success. He is a unique personality, innovative, controversial, daring, and imaginative and genius, a name synonymous with the highly successful group Splash," he says

The show has been dubbed "The Battle of Disco giants" and will see eleven artists from the Dalom Kids Music Production performing alongside Dan Tshanda. "This time, we have also decided to launch the Splash magazine, which will be on sale throughout the shows in Namibia. Apart from that Patricia Majalisa will be part of the entourage unlike last year and is expected to give our Namibian fans the real treat," he confirms

Dan Tshanda started this lucrative entertainment business after leaving school at primary level due to lack of funds. He got a job as a newspaper vendor for an Afrikaans newspaper in South Africa where his father also worked as a cleaner. Tshanda later became a taxi driver and it was then that he made a demo tape, which was submitted for recording at Gallo records.

He established his own band, The Flying Squad and released their first album, Mr Tony in 1985 which was not a success. He was later given a second chance, and this time under the guidance of the living jazz legend, Ray "Chikapa" Phiri of the famous Stimela who advised him to change the group name to Splash.

Phiri agreed to feature them as their supporting act whenever they had shows. It was at this time that Phiri and Stimela discovered the birth of a giant, Dan Tshanda.

As Splash, in 1986, they released a hit album, Peacock, which set them in the limelight in the SADC region. This album sold millions of copies internationally. In 1987, he released another scorcher, Snake, which also did very well in the market. In 1999, then with enough resources and capital, he established his own label, Dalom Kids Music Production and released the album, Makhirikhiri.

Since then the sound of Splash has kept music lovers in the SADC region on the dance floor for almost two decades. Splash music was a result of the inclusion to synthesizers to township music that also saw the rise of the late Brenda Fassie, and the current UNICEF Ambassador, Yvonne Chaka Chaka. Under his leadership, Dan Tshanda established and groomed some artists who are now renowned and rocking many radio stations in the SADC region like Patricia Majalisa, Matshikos, Dalom Kids, Peacock, Chimora sisters and Don B including another upcoming kid on the block, Hexa. He has remained on top since then. He seems to be too far away from retiring from the music career.

In 2005, he released a controversial album titled, Silvia as his 20th album. The album is a mixture of disco, pop and African R&B, to show his versatility in the music business.

To date some of the albums released on his sleeve include Tshokotshoko, Eye for an eye, Nesindande, Khoma Khoma, Why, a slamming album Cellular, Ndosana, Double Face, Crocodile, Ndivhuwo and Sethopa which was enjoyed by everyone internationally, Springbok, Tolovela and Time to shine among others.

These albums were produced under Dalom Music Production. Dan Tshanda's career has seen him crossing borders into many African countries such as Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique, and Swaziland and abroad in Northern America, Australia, England and France.

He remains one of African disco musician in most demand. Tickets for all his shows in the country go for N$ 120 apiece. Tight security is guaranteed.