Windhoek - Namibia Female Artist of the Year, Tequila knows better than to embark on a crazy shopping-spree and blow away the riches she earned at the country’s premiere music awards.

In fact, she has even thanked event organisers and co-sponsors, national broadcaster NBC and mobile operator MTC, for delaying the handover of the prize money by about one month.

The “Ohole” (“Love”) hit-maker told The Southern Times on May 28 that she is level-headed and not planning to go on a shopping frenzy.

“MTC did a good job by delaying the handing over of the prizes because this has given me enough time to plan wisely.

“I am not freaking out and am not going on any crazy shopping spree,” she said.

The more than R100 000 she won is “an opportunity to elevate my lifestyle as well assisting my family and make some investments”.

“I have some projects that I cannot reveal now because you know as black people we are very superstitious.

“I think it is better not to say anything until everything is finalised,” she said.

She said although music brings in enough money to sustain herself, she wants to invest in other areas.

Tequila is planning to drop her next album in August 2012 with lots of live shows on the cards.

“This is going to be a big year for me. It is an opportunity for me to live my dreams. You know the dreams one has when you are an upcoming artist, all that is happening for me now,” said the excited artist. And she cannot wait to jet off to Mauritius, which is one of her NAMAs prizes.

“Mauritius is a romantic destination and we are going to have a lot of fun. I’m excited to experience the different cultures they have there and learn about the people.”

Teen sensation Linda took the NAMAs by storm by winning the Song of the Year, Best R&B and Best Single awards.  They have a combined prize money of R65 000.

And she is going one better on how she intends to use her prize money.

Linda told The Southern Times: “I could do a lot with the money, yet I decided to help those who cannot be in my spot right now education-wise,” she said, explaining that she would use her winnings to pay 2013 academic year fees for underprivileged children.

Winners of 2012 NAMAs were presented with their prizes at an event at NBC’s head office on May 27 - more than a month after the awards held at the Ramatex Complex in Windhoek.

Prizes included cash, vehicles for the Male and Female Artists of the Year and fully paid six-day holidays to Mauritius, among others.

Tequila bagged five awards at the NAMAs, taking home R135 000 and a complimentary Hyundai Accent 1.4.

Her other awards were Best Instrumental, Best Township, Best House, Album of the Year and Best Afro Pop categories. Male Artist of the Year Mushe got N$75 000 and a Hyundai Accent 1.4. Both artists will keep the cars for a year and thereafter be given the first option to purchase them.

At the handover ceremony, MTC’s chief human capital and corporate affairs officer, Tim Ekandjo, played down criticisms from some artists and the media that the organisers took too long to handover the prizes.

Instead, and without mentioning names, Ekandjo lashed out at the media saying that they should desist from pushing agendas of some artists.

“You must be unbiased in your reporting because there are a lot of people who read your stories and they believe what you write,” he said.