[ALOCHONA] Migrants Tale - A Bongo from BD is the Disco King in Botswana

From magic king to disco king

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI

Botswana

http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=7&aid=1619&dir=2011/June/Thursday16Gaborone

 

Businessman Mohammed Sobhan has come a long way from being a magic king to a disco king or nightclub mogul.

 

Sobhan, who is originally from Bangladesh, came to Botswana in 1986 and during that time he became famous for staging magic shows around the country.  He was known as "Magic King" by then, but proclaims that he is still Botswana's king of magic.

 

During the old days Sobhan used to raise funds for charitable organisations like the Botswana Red Cross Society through his magic shows. In 1987, Sobhan married a Motswana woman from Gabane.  The couple have been blessed with four children.  One of Sobhan's sons, Faisal is following in his father's artistic side, as he has become a musician.

 

In 1989, Sobhan left Botswana for Zimbabwe where he stayed for 13 years.  When he was in Zimbabwe, he was raising funds for the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) youth league.   But when the country started to change, he and his family returned to Botswana.

 

He opened a popular nightclub in Digawaneng in 2001, which was known as Magic King.  Revellers from Lobatse and other surrounding areas used to patronise the night spot. Sobhan was also running the Monageng Jazz Pub in Lobatse.  But he closed it down because business was slow.  He also used to be a guest DJ at Nosey Road Nigh Club also in Lobatse, which has since been taken over by new owners.

 

Sobhan, who is known by his stage name as DJ MK, was also one of the DJs at the Digawana Club.  To him, Digawana Club became popular because he is a versatile DJ who can play any type of music.  "The club became very popular because of my music," he said.

However, Sobhan was forced to close Digawana due to misunderstandings with the landlord. Sobhan also used to run the entertainment side at the Embassy Pub in Kanye.  The Kanye pub became a hit because of his music, he brags.  It seems that everything that he touches with his magic hands turns into gold.

 

He also became a mobile DJ, playing in different venues and formed a group that was known as Magical Touch Band.  The band, comprising of musicians he had groomed in Zimbabwe, used to stage excellent shows at the Debswana Club in Jwaneng.

 

Sobhan later opened Club Catch Jazz 22 at Tsholofelo in Gaborone, which has recently been turned into a jazz joint, which he is running with renowned jazzman Soares Katumbela.  He told Showbiz that this is not the first time that he and Katumbela are collaborating as they operated some entertainment projects together in the past.  "

 

I have worked for a long time with Soares.  For instance, we were partners at Take Five Club in Mogo Hotel," he said. Sobhan revealed that they have spent a fortune to renovate the nightclub into a jazz joint.  His intention was to open a jazz venue of 'HIGH' quality.

 

He trusts that Katumbela's vast experience in showbiz will come in handy to turn the place around. Sobhan said they compliment each another with Katumbela.  While Katumbela is well grounded in jazz, he is an all-rounder himself.  "When I play, quality patrons patronise my clubs," he said.  DJ MK can play everything from oldies to South African music.

 

Sobhan used to run another nightclub at the Sedibelo Motel in Mochudi.  By that time he had also leased the motel.  But he left the business after it was gutted by fire.  It appears that the name Magic King is his trademark.

 

His nightclub in Mochudi was also known as Magic King. After closing the Mochudi nightclub, Sobhan opened another one in Gabane, which is still operating.  It is also known as Magic King nightclub.

 

He is also opening another nightclub close to the Tlokweng border gate, which is going to be known as Ghetto Blues.  He promises this is going to be an upmarket joint with all the top quality facilities. Sobhan said the opening of the new club is going to come as a relief to local musicians because there has been a shortage of venues for shows.  They will be mounting live shows at the border joint, which they hope artists may utilise to launch their albums.

 

This club was operated by different management in the past.  Sobhan is currently renovating the club and is not leaving anything to chance.  The new club is expected to be ready towards the end of the month.  "I believe that with my magic touch, I will be able to transform the place," said Magic King.

 

Meanwhile, Sobhan said it is not that he has stopped magic shows.  "It is only that I am not active like before.

 

But I have been doing corporate shows," he said.  Since the young generations do not know him as a magician, he intends to conduct a countrywide tour. "I am still the only reputable magician in this country," said the showman, who is not hesitant to blow his own trumpet.

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