The Evolution of Adriano Visagie

Award Winning Actor, Radio Personality, Television Presenter, Entrepreneur and full-time banker Adriano Visagie recently finished shooting his second and third short film directed by Philippe Talavera and Lloyd Winini in Namibia.

Adriano Visagie winning the SOTIGUI Award 2019 in Burkina Faso

In 2019 he was awarded “Best Male Actor Southern Africa” at the SOTIGUI Awards in Burkina Faso but his first award was at home winning the Namibia Theatre and Film Awards (NTFA) as "Best Male Actor" in a Theatre Play in 2017. Adriano was the radio presenter of the show ‘Heart & Soul” on Energy 100FM which aired on Sunday afternoons where he had interviewed industry specialists and experts.

Visagie featured on the film ‘Salute’ that earned itself a nomination at the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards 2018 as ‘Best Film’ Southern Africa in Lagos, Nigeria.
He set the Blue Carpet alight at the 2019 Namibia Annual Music Awards. Visagie hosted the NAMA 2020 nomination show, does this mean he will be one of the main hosts at this year’s awards as well? 

Adriano's unstoppable metamorphosis is to place Namibia on an international stage and is driven by his cinematic drive to create safe and lucrative spaces for Namibian creatives. He recently completed the Multichoice Talent Factory Master class 2019 for development of film, scripts and local on-screen entertainment in the African diaspora.

Adriano Visagie and Co-Hosts at the NAMA2019 Blue Carpet

Adriano Visagie winning the NTFA 2017 for Best Male Actor in Theatre Play

Adriano Visagie in a play

Adriano Visagie and cast of the award winning movie SALUTE

We took time to sit with Adriano Visagie for a one-on-one…

What should every man try at least once in his life?
Travel to a place you’ve never been to before, by yourself.  Just you, mind, body and soul.
 
What brings you the greatest joy? 
Being able to be in a space where I make others happy and indirectly achieve this every day. The big smile on my mom’s face when she tells me she bought a newspaper and I'm in it, or being able to guide fellow artists on how to make their arts more lucrative and that tangible rewarding feeling or moment I spent interacting with my followers on social media.
 
What brings you the greatest satisfaction about acting?
Over the years, the satisfaction of acting has phenomenally changed. At times, it depends on the type of production and who commandeers it, however I've realized that being able to be in a position to narrate someone's story as authentic as possible and the build up towards staging a production whether theatre or film. Much of the 'behind the scenes' shapes me more than what is seen either during a performance and then of course the satisfaction of how the audience relate to a character whether it be good or bad.
 
What is the best advice you've been given?
 To embrace who I am and just be my true authentic self.

Who do you follow on Twitter? 
On all my social platforms, I follow creatives who inspire me to be better at my craft as a Namibian creative and not in a position where I feel discombobulated.

What is on your bookshelf? 
Mark Manson's - 'The Subtle art of not giving a F&^$# ', and ' No ashes in the fire ' by Darnel Moore on his struggle in poverty, personal identity as both black and queer identities. (Borrowed to me by Rodelio who got it from the First Lady)
 
What is on your bucket list?
Touring a theatre production on an international stage and to do an African film/theatre production collaboration.
 
What is on your perennial to-do list?
I would like to do sky diving in the Namibian desert and explore more Namibian lodges. We have a beautiful country.
 
What are the last three items on your credit card statement? 
LOL! I don’t own a credit card, but on my debit card, I bought sanitizer, NIVEA facemask and Proteas (My favorite flowers)
 
What item in your closet do you wear the most?   
My MN Creations yoga pants. Its custom made, so comfortable and can be worn anywhere, especially during lock-down.

Adriano Visagie at Energy 100FM

Adriano Visagie and cast on set of Kapana

Adriano Visagie on the Real Good Chicken set

Who are your heroes?  
My parents and small circle of friends.
 
Who is on the guest list for your ideal dinner party? 
Lynn Strydom, Uejaa Kazondunge, Lize Ehlers, Leonora Joodt, Estelle Tjipuka, Florian Schott, Dawid Ndjavera and my small circle of friends.
 
 
What quote do you live by? 
Not necessarily a quote, however an indirect affirmation: ' How does this serve me...? ' so, every decision or interaction I have, I ask myself ' How does this serve me?' and when I've answered it, I ask myself ’what does this require of me? '
 
What is the best gift you've ever received?   
My mother gifted me the New King James bible for my 29th birthday. 
 
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you? 
There's so many, but that I'm a polyglot, and that my favorite language is Nyemba, and that I speak it.
I find refuge and peace in the village we call our own- Sauyemwa, in Rundu. 
 
What is one thing you wish you knew when you were younger?
To not be whimsical about my dreams and aspirations - this has been a driving force. 
 
Choose one? Acting, MC or Radio Personality and why?   
LOL, this is a tough one, but I'd choose acting. There can be all elements of what I do in a character.
 
Favourite Colour? Favourite Food? 
I love natural and earthly colours, and I think that describes my current aesthetics on my Instagram.
I love our family tradition, which includes pap and chicken on a Saturday and Pesto Pene Pasta on a night out with my small circle of friends.
 
Fine things we don’t know about you? 
I love simplicity. An ideal space for me is either in nature watching a sunset, or reading. I seldom do silent retreats and meditate by hiking, planting or finding something to fix at home (I don’t require a plumber or electrician)
 
Artiste: NOUN “a professional entertainer, actor or dancer”

Adriano Visagie on stage at his Tina show

Adriano Visagie on set

This is what Adriano Visagie is, he has managed to master his talent in film, theatre and entertainment stages. You cannot have a conversation about creatives or artists in Namibia without mentioning the name Adriano Visagie. He is one of the most talented entertainers in Namibia and very soon Africa and the world will know the force he is.

Adriano also host a one man show at the Warehouse Theatre where he impersonated the legendary Tina Turner and it sold out on both nights.

 In this issue, we celebrate "The Artiste" that is Adriano visagie

Follow Adriano Visagie on Instagram