Music phenomenon Benny Demus itching to come more often

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Friday December 3, 2010 00:00

Benny D, who is also a producer and owns a production studio back home in the US, says one of the things he likes doing is collaborating with locals in music production. He is also a rapper, with two albums, Load up music and BIM (Benny In Black). In fact, he says he would have jumped at any opportunity to get into a local studio and do a song or two with Batswana.

The phenomenon is signed to both Eve and R & B super star, Akon but says he also des his own shows in between.Benny D was given about 45 minutes to do his thing and the crowd found his style of song mixing just mind blowing. He was more than a DJ on the evening. He often postured like rap mcee, as he introduced his songs in an entertaining fashion. Benny D would keep the crowd on their toes with his own storyline behind the song that he was about to dish out, and the revellers seemed to enjoy every moment of it.

Before long Benny D would make the crowd join in with loud choruses as he muted the volume to allow them to participate in the performance.

The Mcee impressed the Gaborone crowd with his knowledge of Botswana as well when he told them he knew the difference between Botswana and South Africa and that Batswana did not like to be confused for South Africans.

He later told Arts & Culture 'I also do not like it when people assume that since I am from the Caribbean, therefore I come from Jamaica. I like people to know that I come from Virgin Islands; it is the same as Batswana; they also want that respect, not to be confused for others.'

Benny D remained in Gaborone for some days before he flew out for his next stop in Dubai on Tuesday afternoon, but told Arts & Culture he would love to return to Botswana, not for the second time or third time, but more often.

Benny says that like his friend Eve, he is also involved in charitable causes, and he would love to participate in fund-raising events in Botswana.

'I liked it here. The people showed me the love. It is difficult to get attention especially when you have a rap celebrity like Eve coming to town but people in this town treated me with the same love; I was amazed,' he added.

While here, the man who also spins discs for R&B super star Akon, also visited the Fashion Lounge where he says he distributed his CDs for free. 'It was wonderful but I did not perform. I had planned to perform on Saturday night after the Eve show, but I was advised that here pubs close as early as 2am; so I didn't go, but I had a meeting with the owner of Fashion Lounge and Rox Sikwane, we are working on a plan to get me back to Botswana and give people a show,' he said.