Africa, Botswana, Gaborone, December 2015
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
Portrait of 27 years old “Cybok”
I work as a security guard, I started listening to heavy metal in 2008, I liked the way the metal heads dressed and behaved so I started associating myself with them and I became a rocker, I like Skinflint, I’m new in the Industry.
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Africa, Botswana, Gaborone, December 2015
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
Portrait of 20 years old “Psychosomatic Torture”
Im a tertiary Student doing electricity course. I love metal, I started listening to metal in 2013, I was inspired by uncle who was guitarist and vocalist for a local metal band called Nodd, Overthrust members particularly Vulture and Dawg made me a better metal head through giving me metal bands to listen to for free since Im a students and couldn’t afford to buy music for myself.
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Africa, Botswana, Gaborone, December 2015
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
Portrait of 40 years old “Diplo”
I am a farmer, I started listening to metal music in 1999, my sister was married to a white man from England who heavily influenced me to listen to metal, by then I was just listening to that music not knowing it was called metal, up to until I learnt about metal and started buying metal attire for myself, I listened to bands like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple.
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Africa, Botswana, Gaborone, December 2015
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
Portrait of 38 years old “Rams”
I’m a cowboy by origin, I started my cowboy life style back in my early childhood stages because my grandfather was a cowboy, I was born in Thamaga village in Southern part of Botswana. I am married man with two kids, a cowboy and cowgirl.
I’m self employed, I do metal works like welding and other stuff, Overthrust is my favorite local band, I listen to Bon Jovi and Smokie.
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Africa, Botswana, Gaborone, December 2015 Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR Portrait of 37 years old “Lady Rocker” I started listening to metal in 2002 in Lobatse town, I used to see rockers gathered in a bar dressed in leather pants nice cowboy boots and hats, so I was admiring and wanted to be one of them, I started associating myself with them, I liked their discipline, team work and unity, I eventually started buying metal attire, t-shirts and leather pants and one day in 2002 I joined them and they made me listen to Boston, Iron Maiden and that’s how I became a rocker, I´m currently listening to local bands as well and my favorite is Metal Orizon and Overthrust. Im currently self employed, I cook food and sell at the pub and sell cigarettes as well.
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Africa, Botswana, Gaborone, December 2015
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
Portrait of 21 years old “Blade”
I work in a bakery at Woolworths, I love rock n roll and I started listening to metal in 2012 , I used to see music videos for Hammer Fall in MTV channel and I liked the way there were looking on stage, dressed in leather pants and nice boots, I started buying metal attire and that’s how I became a rocker.
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Africa, Botswana, Ghanzi, May 2019
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
Portrait of Hornman (left) and Machine (right).
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Africa, Botswana, Gaborone, December 2015
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
Portrait of 38 years old “Satanica”
Call me the unknown, I am underground security, I love metal, I started listening to metal in 1998, a guy by the name Basha initiated me into metal, when I was with him he listened to Dire Straits and ACDC, My favorite bans Motörhead and Manowar, local band, Overthrust is my favorite.
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Africa, Botswana, Molepolole, December 2015
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
Portrait of 26 years old “Crock”
I am an art student in a tertiary school, I started listening to rock n roll in 2003 when I was doing form two in a junior school, because I live a hard way of life and I discovered that metal was the music that suits me well and my lifestyle. I listen to Motörhead and Manowar, my favorite local band is Overthrust.
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Africa, Botswana, Gaborone, December 2015 Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR Portrait of 27 years old “Hysteria” I finished my university and currently looking for jobs, I started listening to metal in 2007, my brother was a rocker and I spent most of the time with him playing metal and I was inspired.I love heavy metal and my favorite bands are Motorhead, Manowar and Sabaton, my favorite local band is Overthrust and Amok.
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Africa, Botswana, Gaborone, December 2015
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
Portrait of 29 years old “Viper”
Im a Prison Officer. I started listening to metal in 1996, I loved metal attire, I used to admire metal attire when rockers pass by on their leather outfits, when I started working I bought my own metal attire, listened to Manowar, Boston, Motörhead and I was in, Overthrust is my favorite local band.
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Africa, Botswana, Gaborone, December 2015
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
Portrait of 33 years old “Budro”
I do piece jobs. I started listening to metal in 1999, I used to watch cowboy movies and I wanted to be like them, I designed my own attire, eventually I started listening to metal bands like Iron Maiden.
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Africa, Botswana, Molepolole, December 2015 Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR Portrait of 26 years old “Hardcore Series” Im a graphic designer but im currently doing poultry. I started listening to metal in 2005, I used to watch Bon Jovi music videos and that’s when I got inspired, Manowar is my favorite band and overthrust is my favorite local band.
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Africa, Botswana, Mochudi, December 2015
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
Portrait of 26 years old “Warlord”
Im a Boiler. I started listening to metal in 2002, cowboy movies influenced my attire and I was listening to bands like Iron Maiden, Bon Jovi and my favorite is Sabaton.
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Africa, Botswana, Gaborone, December 2015
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
Portrait of 26 years old “Desert Super Power”
I work as an electrician and started listening to metal music in 2005, my grandfather was a cowboy, and I chose metal to combine with my life style.
I design clothes for the people in the rock scene, normally leather and spikes, chains, and I’m the leader of the super power crew, in the rock scene.
The cowboys clothes match very well with metal music, I listen to bands like Manowar, Iron Maiden…
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Africa, Botswana, Gaborone, December 2015
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
Portrait of 30 years old Overthrust front man, bassist and lead vocalist “Vulture”
I am a rocker, I live for rock n roll and I´ll die a true, loyal metal warrior, anything that is not metal doesn’t make sense to me, I love metal. I started listening to metal at the age of 13 years when I was in a primary school in 1998, I stayed with my uncle Dux Drug Dee, Master and my other cousins who were metal heads and always playing metal around me, I got influenced and they gave me some metal music and attire, they gave me cassettes from Cannibal Corpse, Metallica, Iron Maiden and Def Leppard, so I listened to them everyday, I completed my studies in 2007 and became a cop, I met my cousin Spencer in 2008 and we started Overthrust, I sold my motorcycle – 1100 YAMAHA, to buy basic band instruments, Suicide joined us as a drummer, I was the bassist and vocalist and Spencer the guitarist, 2010 we became very active and started attending shows, Godfather and Dawg joined us in 2011 and 2013 respectively.
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Africa, Botswana, Gaborone, December 2015 Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR Portrait of 38 years old “King Taker” I am a cowboy, I´m self employed and I deal with metal works such as welding and other stuff. I became a cowboy in 1993, I watched too much cowboy movies such as the good, bad and ugly and I was influenced, I wanted to be like them. So in 2003 I became a brutal cowboy, I rode horses since at the age of 7 and half years, Im a cowboy who listen to metal because I love metal music, I have friends who are metal heads and I have spent the rest of my life in metal scene and attending shows, my favorite bands are Amon Amarth and Manowar. Today I was riding a Golden horse by the name Class.
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Africa, Botswana, Ghanzi, May 2017 Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR 8th Anniversary Overthrust "Winter Metal Mania Fest 2017" “Vulture” 32 years old Overthrust front man, bassist and lead vocalist. I am a rocker, I live for rock n roll and I´ll die a true, loyal metal warrior, anything that is not metal doesn’t make sense to me, I love metal. I started listening to metal at the age of 13 years when I was in a primary school in 1998, I stayed with my uncle Dux Drug Dee, Master and my other cousins who were metal heads and always playing metal around me, I got influenced and they gave me some metal music and attire, they gave me cassettes from Cannibal Corpse, Metallica, Iron Maiden and Def Leppard, so I listened to them everyday, I completed my studies in 2007 and became a cop, I met my cousin Spencer in 2008 and we started Overthrust, I sold my motorcycle – 1100 YAMAHA, to buy basic band instruments, Suicide joined us as a drummer, I was the bassist and vocalist and Spencer the guitarist, 2010 we became very active and started attending shows, Godfather and Dawg joined us in 2011 and 2013 respectively.
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Africa, Botswana, Ghanzi, May 2017 Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR 8th Anniversary Overthrust "Winter Metal Mania Fest 2017" “Vulture” 32 years old Overthrust front man, bassist and lead vocalist. I am a rocker, I live for rock n roll and I´ll die a true, loyal metal warrior, anything that is not metal doesn’t make sense to me, I love metal. I started listening to metal at the age of 13 years when I was in a primary school in 1998, I stayed with my uncle Dux Drug Dee, Master and my other cousins who were metal heads and always playing metal around me, I got influenced and they gave me some metal music and attire, they gave me cassettes from Cannibal Corpse, Metallica, Iron Maiden and Def Leppard, so I listened to them everyday, I completed my studies in 2007 and became a cop, I met my cousin Spencer in 2008 and we started Overthrust, I sold my motorcycle – 1100 YAMAHA, to buy basic band instruments, Suicide joined us as a drummer, I was the bassist and vocalist and Spencer the guitarist, 2010 we became very active and started attending shows, Godfather and Dawg joined us in 2011 and 2013 respectively.
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Africa, Botswana, Ghanzi, May 2017
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
8th Anniversary Overthrust "Winter Metal Mania Fest 2017" at Ghanzi community Hall.
Vaselyn, 26 years old, from Lobatse, Botswana.
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Africa, Botswana, Ghanzi, May 2019
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
Portrait of Hornman.
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Africa, Botswana, Ghanzi, May 2017 Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR 8th Anniversary Overthrust "Winter Metal Mania Fest 2017" Maxao Debele aka DIDI ROKK from Ghanzi. He doesn’t play in band but likes the music and the metal community, his „true brothers".
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Africa, Botswana, Ghanzi, May 2017
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
Portrait of a Rocker at the 8th Anniversary Overthrust "Winter Metal Mania Fest 2017" at Ghanzi community Hall.
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Africa, Botswana, Ghanzi, May 2017
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
8th Anniversary Overthrust "Winter Metal Mania Fest 2017" at Ghanzi community Hall.
Ralf and Dragon from Ghanzi. They say, they are brothers. They manufacted their costumes by themselves. The suitcases belong to the outfit (but they are empty).
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Africa, Botswana, Ghanzi, May 2017
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
8th Anniversary Overthrust "Winter Metal Mania Fest 2017" at Ghanzi community Hall.
Nelson aka „Death“ (right) and his friend in front of the small shopping mall in Ghanzi just before the „March against Poverty“ starts – the metal community is parading from the city center to the festival venue
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Africa, Botswana, Ghanzi, May 2017 Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR 8th Anniversary Overthrust "Winter Metal Mania Fest 2017" at Ghanzi community Hall. Tshepho Kaisara aka "Dawg“, guitarrist at Overtrust, and bass guitar player at Raven In Flesh.
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Africa, Botswana, Ghanzi, May 2019
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
Portrait of Mma-Sekweejane.
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Africa, Botswana, Ghanzi, May 2019
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
Portrait of Machine.
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Africa, Botswana, Ghanzi, May 2019
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
Portrait of Oldrock.
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Africa, Botswana, Ghanzi, May 2019
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
Portrait of Dead Rock.
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Africa, Botswana, Ghanzi, May 2017
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
8th Anniversary Overthrust "Winter Metal Mania Fest 2017" at Ghanzi community Hall.
People gathering in front of the small shopping mall in Ghanzi just before the „March against Poverty“ starts – the metal community is parading from the city center to the festival venue.
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Africa, Botswana, Ghanzi, May 2017
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
8th Anniversary Overthrust "Winter Metal Mania Fest 2017" at Ghanzi community Hall.
March against Poverty“ starts – the metal community is parading from the city center to the festival venue.
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Africa, Botswana, Ghanzi, May 2017
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
8th Anniversary Overthrust "Winter Metal Mania Fest 2017" at Ghanzi community Hall.
After the March against Poverty“ starts – the metal community is parading from the city center to the festival venue. A guy announces the opening of the event.
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Africa, Botswana, Ghanzi, May 2017
Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR
8th Anniversary Overthrust "Winter Metal Mania Fest 2017" at Ghanzi community Hall.
March against Poverty“ starts – the metal community is parading from the city center to the festival venue.
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Africa, Botswana, Gaborone, December 2015 Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR Rockers enjoying a concert by Remuda, Barren Barrell and Skinflint, 3 heavy Rock metal bands from Botswana at Club Zoom.
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Africa, Botswana, Gaborone, December 2015 Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR Rockers enjoying a concert by Remuda, Barren Barrell and Skinflint, 3 heavy Rock metal bands from Botswana at Club Zoom.
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Africa, Botswana, Gaborone, December 2015 Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR Rockers enjoying a concert by Remuda, Barren Barrell and Skinflint, 3 heavy Rock metal bands from Botswana at Club Zoom.
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Africa, Botswana, Gaborone, December 2015 Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR Rockers enjoying a concert by Remuda, Barren Barrell and Skinflint, 3 heavy Rock metal bands from Botswana at Club Zoom.
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Africa, Botswana, Gaborone, December 2015 Photo by Pep Bonet / NOOR Rockers enjoying a concert by Remuda, Barren Barrell and Skinflint, 3 heavy Rock metal bands from Botswana at Club Zoom.
“This is the story of what looks at first to be an unlikely union, yet one which powerfully illustrates how music, how heavy metal music, has become a positively unifying force in Africa”
For 60 years, Botswana has stood as a peaceful nation in a turbulent continent. The Batswana have enjoyed freedom of expression, life, loves and passions, and among these a fervent heavy metal scene has grown nationwide. Hellbangers makes a mockery of all the stereotypes ascribed to Africa. It is a story of passion, positivity andtogetherness through a music scene which is never less than loud, colorful and joyful.
Hellbangers follows Batswana heavy metal lovers from all over the country as they prepare to converge onto Ghanzi for the annual Winter Mania metal festival put on by the community leader, ex-police chief, bass-raging warrior and talisman, Vulture, from the extreme metal band Overthrust. Containing footage and photographs of all the various Botswana metal families, supported by 30 in-depth interviews with characters ranging from Vulture to charismatic Charles Bronson-loving “cowboy" The Undertaker, and culminating in the metal madness of the Winter Mania show, Hellbangers is the story of people coming together and becoming who they really want to be rather than what the world believes they are.
Hellbangers smashes the myths and cliches of Africa only being a continent containing war, poverty and strife, instead showing that heavy metal brother -and sister- hood thrives with life and passion in the African continent.
Hellbangers stands as a timeless statement on the positive power of music and peace when the two are allowed to flourish side-by-side.
Hellbangers is about peace and community at it’s most colourful, extreme and fervent best, smashing cliches and building new legends to be explored further within a continent -and country- so often misjudged.
Pep Bonet
Pep Bonet (Mallorca, 1974) is a co-founder of NOOR images and a Nikon ambassador.