DJ Bunz's horror trip to Miami

Wanetsha Mosinyi Correspondent | Thursday April 19, 2007 00:00

 

DJ Bunz and Selebi-Phikwe based Ian 'DJ Double H' Mapplebeck left Botswana on March 20, to attend a World Music Conference.  He revealed that he had to spend 10 days sleeping on the airport floor after the person who was supposed to have accommodated them for the duration of the Conference was no where to be found.

'One of my friends had promised to sponsor us with accommodation through his brother who stays in Miami but when we arrived and tried to contact the brother his phone was off.  We were stranded and had to use our personal allowances to book in a hotel but the money only lasted for five days.' After the five days, DJ Bunz said they were then left with ten days before their return day and had no money to even go to the airport to change the ticket.  'Double H managed to be accommodated by his family friends and I was left alone with no money. 

I started walking to towards the airport, which was far away but luckily halfway to the airport  someone gave me $1.50 for a bus fare to the airport.  For me to change my ticket, I was required to pay 50 pounds, which I didn't have so I had to sleep at the airport until the departure day,' he revealed.
He further narrated how he had to go for the first day at the airport without food, but on the second day he managed to  sneak into   Burger King outlet and took advantage of the free Coke that is provided to customers.  He said the airport cleaners also shared their breakfast with him and after five days, Virgin Atlantic Airways provided him with one meal a day.

'It was hard but I took it as one of the challenges that I had to endure and win.  I had a diary  which has inspirational words on each page and I read those words and they gave me motivation and showed me that no matter what adversity you are faced with in life, you can conquer them if you believe.'
DJ Bunz said when they realised they were stranded, they first tried to find the Botswana Embassy phone numbers in telephone directories but to no avail.  At the airport, he said he got into trouble with the police several times after he left his bags unattended to.  Security at US airports has been strict since 9/11 terrorists attacks but he said the police only left him after he told them he was from Botswana.  'They told me I was lucky because they don't have any problems with Botswana, otherwise they were going to evict me from the airport.'

About the Music Conference, DJ Bunz however said it yielded good results as he managed to collaborate with internationally acclaimed University of Sound promoters, based in the UK.  'We performed at some of the gigs at the Miami clubs and they liked our performance and afterwards we exchanged ideas.  They might draft us into their upcoming annual event called Ibiza in the Caribbean Islands,' he said excitedly.
He said they also collaborated with a musician called Jeff Grossberg, and did a song called Botswana/Chicago United, which will be featured in his album.  'I recently got feedback from him that the song is doing well and he is willing to  do a world tour dubbed
'The Meaning of a One Handed DJ'' DJ Bunz said.  The tour will include New York, Chicago, Miami and DJ Bunz said he is also planning to have the same tour in Botswana and South Africa.
The ambitious DJ  asserted that he has also proposed to the World Music Conference organisers to host a DJ competition in Botswana that would have the winner represent the country next year at the conference for DJ Spinnoff's.  'They liked the idea and I am waiting for their decision.'