A 27-year-old man nicknamed Cybok is a heavy-metal fan from the southern African nation of Botswana. Photographer Pep Bonet documented the metal subculture there in December. "I started listening to heavy metal in 2008," Cybok told Bonet. "I liked the way the metalheads dressed and behaved, so I started associating myself with them and I became a rocker."
A 27-year-old man nicknamed Cybok is a heavy-metal fan from the southern African nation of Botswana. Photographer Pep Bonet documented the metal subculture there in December. "I started listening to heavy metal in 2008," Cybok told Bonet. "I liked the way the metalheads dressed and behaved, so I started associating myself with them and I became a rocker."
Pep Bonet/Noor
"I started listening to rock 'n' roll in 1991 till present, and I will die a rocker," said "Temple of Devil," or TD. "I grew up in a variety of styles, but I choose metal music because it made sense to me. I liked metal spirit. ... I listen to Judas Priest, Motorhead, Skid Row, and my favorite local band is Overthrust."
"I started listening to rock 'n' roll in 1991 till present, and I will die a rocker," said "Temple of Devil," or TD. "I grew up in a variety of styles, but I choose metal music because it made sense to me. I liked metal spirit. ... I listen to Judas Priest, Motorhead, Skid Row, and my favorite local band is Overthrust."
Pep Bonet/Noor
Bonet said they don't have metal albums or clothes they can buy in Botswana. Instead, they put on their own concerts and buy leather to make their own outfits.
Bonet said they don't have metal albums or clothes they can buy in Botswana. Instead, they put on their own concerts and buy leather to make their own outfits.
Pep Bonet/Noor
"I am a cowboy," said a man who identifies as "King Taker." "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, the Bad and the Ugly,' and I was influenced, I wanted to be like them. So in 2003, I became a brutal cowboy. ... I'm a cowboy who listens to metal because I love metal music, I have friends who are metalheads, and I have spent the rest of my life in metal scene and attending shows. My favorite bands are Amon Amarth and Manowar."
"I am a cowboy," said a man who identifies as "King Taker." "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, the Bad and the Ugly,' and I was influenced, I wanted to be like them. So in 2003, I became a brutal cowboy. ... I'm a cowboy who listens to metal because I love metal music, I have friends who are metalheads, and I have spent the rest of my life in metal scene and attending shows. My favorite bands are Amon Amarth and Manowar."
Pep Bonet/Noor
"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," a woman nicknamed Lady Rocker told Bonet. "I started associating myself with them. I liked their discipline, teamwork 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."
"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," a woman nicknamed Lady Rocker told Bonet. "I started associating myself with them. I liked their discipline, teamwork 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."
Pep Bonet/Noor
"I love metal," said "Satanica." "I started listening to metal in 1998. A guy by the name (of) Basha initiated me into metal. When I was with him, he listened to Dire Straits and AC/DC."
"I love metal," said "Satanica." "I started listening to metal in 1998. A guy by the name (of) Basha initiated me into metal. When I was with him, he listened to Dire Straits and AC/DC."
Pep Bonet/Noor
"Desert Super Power" designs clothes for metal fans, "normally leather and spikes, chains," he told Bonet.
"Desert Super Power" designs clothes for metal fans, "normally leather and spikes, chains," he told Bonet.
Pep Bonet/Noor
"I am a farmer," said "Diplo." "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 learned about metal and started buying metal attire for myself. I listened to bands like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple."
"I am a farmer," said "Diplo." "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 learned about metal and started buying metal attire for myself. I listened to bands like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple."
Pep Bonet/Noor
"I started listening to metal in 2007," "Hysteria" told Bonet. "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."
"I started listening to metal in 2007," "Hysteria" told Bonet. "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."
Pep Bonet/Noor
"Vulture" is the front man for Overthrust, a popular local band. "I am a rocker, I live for rock 'n' roll, and I'll die a true, loyal metal warrior," he told Bonet. "Anything that is not metal doesn't make sense to me."
"Vulture" is the front man for Overthrust, a popular local band. "I am a rocker, I live for rock 'n' roll, and I'll die a true, loyal metal warrior," he told Bonet. "Anything that is not metal doesn't make sense to me."
Pep Bonet/Noor
"I am an art student in a tertiary school," said "Crock." "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 am an art student in a tertiary school," said "Crock." "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."
Pep Bonet/Noor