BENSON PHUTHEGO: Now Wiser & Better!
Source : Kutlwano
Author : Calviniah Kgautlhe
Location : GABORONE
Event : Feature/Profile
If these words echo anything in your life, try find out the quality of matter you were molded from. Chances are you came from the same quality that Benson Phuthego was fashioned. And there would not be very many of you. The one time greatly-beloved Btv Setswana news anchor with a distinct warm baritone once lay in a heap of ashes – and many believed he would never rise from the mess.
However, he proved them all wrong and rewrote the meaning of transcendence over life`s hurdles, over the financial shambles and image disrepute that threatened to gobble everything he was and had. Today Benson`s star is shining as he blossoms and soars into the celebrated skies of music and poetry.
Up in the sky, stars do not fall. Each keeps its place, revolving around a bigger planet or having smaller planets admiring it as they orbit it. Benson appears poised to be the bigger fellow and you want to believe he is capable of such a feat. The man has amazing mental strength. It is largely owing to his potent will, and plenty of help from above that he managed to scale the scary walls of failure.
Benson`s music was birthed as he lay in the fiery furnace, and as destitution mocked him. Like a pricey stone, the music has been smoothed and its healing, massaging balm designed to touch those at the threshold of hope and bring back precious silvery optimism and life. Greatly amazing is the fact Benson`s hell lasted 24 months – a miniscule amount of time for one who is not affected, but as long as eternity for the one in trouble.
That rough phase became a blessing in disguise, not only to Benson but also to Batswana. It gave the nation a brand new Benson, and a star of international repute.
When disaster struck, Benson did not wail and wallow in self pity. No, he would not give up hope. Rather he stood up and fought. He came back from battle triumphant, his spoil two rich poetic Jazz albums released in the same year: Life in January 2012, and Jive Africa in December of the same year.
To put the icing on the cake Benson walked home with two BOMU awards - Best New Comer and Best Folklore Artist at the end of the year.
Benson, famous for his unique legendary news reading panache that remains embossed on his fanatics` minds, last graced the homes of Btv viewers as he read his last newscast for the station in November 2009. At the time he simultaneously ran a trucking and logistics business, and held an enviable job as a Head of Customer Service with a local bank. Things were going very well for him then.
But, “I was not careful with my finances and my associations, because I did not anticipate evil which taught me that in life you must carefully look out for yourself,” he says as he explains the beginning of his fall and his subsequent financial ruin to Kutlwano.
The rough road to his financial ruin was paved by a dishonest business dealing after a dishonest client duped him and selfishly used his trucks in a neighbouring country for over five months, and would not so much as pay a thebe. Debt mounted and circumstances conspired to bring him down.
“Financial crisis hit my business instantly as he did not pay as per agreement. My trucks were in arrears and this opened doors to doom, even as other problems mounted.”
“I was devastated as problems unfolded but in the phase of adversity I said to myself, if I wallow in this pain I will never emerge from this cob web. At that juncture imagination and creativity came to the fore and I could maintain my sanity and order,” he says, determination riding upon every baritone syllable.
He refused to forget his purpose in life but chose to stay collected, all the while maintaining positive mental status and surrounding himself with those who radiated positive energy.
“I knew that God was fighting in my corner and he wanted me to be strong in spirit,” he says wisely.
It is essential to remember who you are and what you are capable of, to find your passion, know yourself, stand strong and fight with composure when hard times hit, he adds.
“No one can come and fight your battles for you, I said to myself, Benson! You were created a special breed with an appetite for the impossible,” he reckons, straightening up as if to demonstrate his sudden realisation that he could not lay slumped in the ashes forever.
At the time the rumour mill was gorged with news of his situation. Some newspapers even carried stories – no, lies about him. Conversely, Benson was not deterred and would not allow the slough of misery and seeming despair to overcome him.
“I was never arrested or locked up by the police for defrauding clients, those were malicious allegations perpetuated by those who wanted to besmear the name Benson Phuthego ... I never signed a bank cheque that failed, I stopped the cheque payment because I was given an unsatisfactory product. I could not pay for unsatisfactory work.”
Most importantly Benson remembered that fame came with a huge prize, and that as a celebrity he was game.
“Of cause popularity comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, I am not at a level of justifying rumours, I cannot micro manage what people say about me, they can have a fair share of me,” he says philosophically.
He cautions against careless associations and spendthrift tendencies. For him he was wise after the event and would be happy to see others avoid the boggy crater.
The Tlokweng born young man is a proud son to Sebotseng and Morwadi Segokgo for whom he is thankful to the creator..
It was in Tlokweng that Benson`s foundation was laid. It was characterised by strong family and community values. Then there was the education system which from time to time prodded the growing giant in him. As he applied himself to an array of extra-curricular activities, little Benson discovered he was endowed with performing arts talent.
“Deep down in my knower I knew I was an arts person, I began to render poems during special national events at school and this made me popular. When I was doing standard 7, I would listen to Mzwakhe Mbuli and immersed myself in his poetry, and learnt to do poesy. That was my birth as an artiste,” Benson reminisces about his formative years.
Benson imagines he was on life support. Only determination and unwavering faith in God saved him.
“Life has a way of throwing challenges at you, and I fully appreciate the deep pitfalls I went through. They served to test and strengthen my character. I am a better man now,” said an all the wiser Benson.
Now he is better focused and loves himself better, all the while allowing his love and experience to flow to others.
“Exude excellence and passion in anything you do at all times, do not be afraid to make mistakes,” he said. In his book, the only people who do not make mistakes are those who do not try new things in life. Life, he said is all about traversing new terrains, and never losing focus of where you want to go – the future. In his roadmap, he plans to one day return to television, but on a much bigger international performing arts stage.
In the meantime, he shall allow the knowledge of where he has been, and where he is going and his desire for peace and his faith in God to be his drivers. ENDS
Teaser:
“In the face of adversity I said to myself, ‘if I wallow in this pain I will never emerge from this cob web. At that juncture imagination and creativity came to the fore and I could maintain my sanity and order as I am driven by passion and powered by resilience.” “I was not careful with my finances and my associations, I did not anticipate evil, which taught me that in life you must carefully look out for yourself.”
