Your dreams are valid as long as you believe in them as it takes believing yourself for someone else to believe in you. Collin Powell famously captured this when he said, “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic, it takes sweat, determination and hard work”. Lindo Buthelezi from South Africa popularly known as Dogg Dbn is what you would call a creative entrepreneur, a man whose entrepreneurship is based on the creative industry. He is a prominent name in the scheme of the South African entertainment industry and the manager of the viral hitmakers Disruption Boyz. He is vast in PR and marketing and has built a successful venture in representing artists. However, it all started with a dream, a dream that has led him doe the road of creative entrepreneurship. It is a journey of failure, success and lessons, the story of a man who pursues that which keeps him from sleeping- his dream. He is an insightful man with a strong verve to life and an awesome personality to have a conversation with. His eyes especially light up when the subject centers around music or entertainment and he comes into his stride effortlessly. Dogg Dbn lays it bare in a no holds-barred session with Richard Iroko of African Muzik Magazine. Enjoy the insightful chat.
AMM: Good to finally have this interview, let’s five straight in. Who is Dogg Dbn?
Dogg Dbn: (Smiles) Well, my name is Lindo Buthelezi from South Africa born in a city called Durban. I am better known as Dogg Dbn in the entertainment scene. I’m a creative, entrepreneur, father, anti-vaccer and most importantly passionate about the business of entertainment.
AMM: What inspired your foray into music and management?
Dogg Dbn: I’ve always loved partying and from a young age the people I looked up to were party animals. Through my love for music, house music, I used to always have these creative ideas on how we can improve the business even though I had no formal education around it. In my city I started representing artists and built my own PR & marketing company through learning and teaching myself. So, I’d say my love for music inspired me to join my creativity into a business.
AMM: That’s really fantastic, how has the experience of working with Distruction Boyz been?
Dogg Dbn: It was amazing. The highlight of my life one that I can’t begin to express. I was obsessed to be honest!
AMM: How did it feel when the Distruction Boyz song ‘Omunye’ made it to the Wakanda movie?
Dogg Dbn: I felt proud not just because it was a big movie but because everything they do that elevates them makes me proud.
AMM: What are the major challenges facing South African Music?
Dogg Dbn: The business of music is the problem and I feel we’d be very far if we had visionaries leading us. We need to take musicians seriously, invest in ensuring their music meets world standard and market them. Plus give local music majority airplay! The rest will fix itself.
AMM: Where do you see African Music in the next few years?
Dogg Dbn: We are going to expend worldwide more but for us to get there we need to make and promote originality in our sound. So, provided we stick to that script we can definitely take Africa to the world through music
AMM: You just launched the entertainment and lifestyle app GeeGo, tell us about it.
Dogg Dbn: Before I explain I’m one half of GeeGo, I have a partner of mine his name is Fistaz Mixwell. GeeGo is the first of its kind all round entertainment lifestyle app. Initially it started as an events discovery platform where users can checkout events happening in South Africa and also providing event promoters and venues to upload their upcoming events for free. We’ve then grew to launching a radio station, news feature, DJ Mixes, store, liquor store, now launched a pharmacy, podcasts & other sleek features but you have to check it our yourself to see what I’m talking about: www.geego.co.za/download
AMM: What are the unique features of GeeGo?
Dogg Dbn: Our platform is unique, it’s the world’s first google of events that benefits everyone that uses it. It’s the only app that fuses entertainment, but I don’t want to oversell it I prefer people check it out and make their own judgement.
AMM: What are the upcoming plans for the app?
Dogg Dbn: Once everything is back to normal, we have some exciting new partners to unveil, music store and some features classified info 😉
AMM: Are there any exciting talents in South Africa that you would like us to know about?
Dogg Dbn: OH! Yes, you know South Africa is always brimming with exciting talents. Check out these names- Dj Kabila, Blaq Rhythm, Dementedsoul, Dlala Thukzin, Mickey Greene, Stunner, Musiq IQ, Dj Fisherman, Soulphiatown, Funkysoul, Skillz, Prince Bulo, 104BPM – I just listed people who will be on my upcoming project that I really would love to see them breaking worldwide.
AMM: What was the inspiration behind GeeGo?
Dogg Dbn: The hardships of entertainment. I know how tough it is to put together an event and draw people, so I wanted to create a solution for everyone in events promoters and patrons. My partner then took it to the next level to what it is today.
AMM: What is your advice to people on how to cope in this strange pandemic time?
Dogg Dbn: Solutions come when we are united. We need to know what’s really happening and get the right facts then work together on how we rebuild from here. My solution is buying local, wearing local, listening to local and supporting local.
AMM: What has been the impact of Corona Virus on music and life in South Africa generally?
Dogg Dbn: Terrible. Hunger being on top of my list. Businesses, jobs and a complete collapse of the economy is the reality of what we are going through here. It’s really tough
