Meet Benjamin Caleb cgp | Guitar player, songwriter and teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Benjamin Caleb cgp and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Benjamin, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk is the engine of a career, the one that allows us to start correctly, to take our first steps, it’s what proves to ourselves and to those around us that we believe deeply in what we do.

Taking risk has never been an easy thing, it turns your life upside down in a painful way, but it also helps our heart to believe in it even more; it’s a proof that you have a gift in what you do, and to know exactly where you’re going, it makes the journey even more exciting and it gives meaning to a career, and at the end it makes our success more enjoyable.

Risk plays a very big role in my life as an African Fingerpicking guitar player, i would not be where i am today without risk, it helped me to focus on the essentials, not to skip steps and to become good at what i do.

At first it seemed crazy, but then people understand and agree with you, the mistake that many people make, is to build a career with a plan B, you must have both feet at 100% in it;

When you take the boat to the city of success, you have to burn the boat behind you when you arrive, to tell your whole being that this is a point of no return.

I’ve experienced it a lot, it’s a hard decision to make, but as soon as your body, your brain, your spirit and your soul know that there is no plan B, that it’s this, or nothing, the result is always big and positive.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My main instrument is the acoustic guitar, i play a style called Fingerpicking or Fingerstyle: the guitarist expresses himself alone, without any orchestral support and provides at the same time, the rhythm part, the bass part, the percussion and melody, which allows me to do concerts on my own across Africa.

What sets me apart from others i think is my deep and true love for music, i have dedicated almost my entire life to it, and i work more than 12 hours a day even if sometimes it doesn’t bring anything, in my opinion i have limitless determination, ready to do what is necessary to develop my art;

In my opinion an artist must be crazy about his art, otherwise it has no meaning, the only way to stand out from others is to have this extra madness, everything must be intense for a player like me.

I am proud of everything i have accomplished along my journey.
There are many things that remain to be done, but it still feels good to see my efforts paying off and my dreams coming true.
I have a list of things to accomplish, and my greatest pride is seeing how it comes true one by one, and sometimes in a very surprising way.

I am proud of my current musical level, i am very proud to be the best in Africa, and the road goes on.

What excites me the most is the appreciation and consideration from my mentors that i receive daily, the people who call me for concerts, projects, masterclasses and mail that i receive to make articles like this, and above all inspire other musicians here in Africa, I’m deeply in love with my job.

To be where i am today, i had to work hard, following one goal at a time, i am the first African to do what i do, so i had to work doubly hard.
I didn’t have people to turn to, i was alone
and sometimes it’s so hard, i wanted to give up and give up several times, but when you surrender your mind and your body to the music, you always receive a force that pushes you to continue, another chance to continue with more strength and love, everything is a question of dedication and love.

It’s not easy at all, everyone lets you down when you start the journey, the road will be lonely. In my case it was friends, they felt that i was growing as i followed my own way. You will feel different along the way, it hurts but it’s good, you become strong.

But your only refuge, your only weapon, your only friend must be your passion, you must not count on anyone. I’ve been friends with people, i’ve been in love many time, but it was always my guitar that stays when everyone leaves.

Everyone has their own way of overcoming difficulties, in many cases, it’s things that make us feel alive, and in my case it’s Tommy Emmanuel, Ray Charles and BB King, their songs make me forget my daily problems, it’s a good place to hide away, far from troubles, that the reason why i do what i do.

And i learned along the way that success is not too complicated in fact, you just need to find something you love the most in the world, something you will be willing to die for, you must find your own way.

Like everyone, i want my work and my efforts to be recognized, that my efforts are not in vain, all i want is more concerts and more opportunities, and above all, writing songs that touch people’s hearts, same as Tommy Emmanuel, that’s all.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If a friend comes to visit me, i will show them around my home studio, it’s my sanctuary and my place of refuge, then we will go eat a hamburger somewhere in a corner of the city that i love.

But if we have to travel, i will probably take him to Nashville TN, introduce him to all my musician friends there, we could do studio tours around town, doing concerts…

I could also take him to magic places like the Ryman Auditorium, The Grand Ole Opry, The Country Music Hall of Fame, The bluebird Cafe, places like that.

For me everything that is interesting and fun has to revolve around music, i don’t know why but, that’s the way i am.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Alright, like any other person, my success is not only the fruits of my personal efforts, even if the road seemed very lonely to me, there were tears that many people helped me to wipe away. There are people who supported me and helped me during the journey.

1. CALEB MUCHANGA:

He was an exemplary father for me, and my greatest support throughout my career, while many African parents prevent their children from making music, mine encouraged me, making sure that i have good musical equipment and everything, he is a special father.

2. THOMAS LEWIS:

He was the first person who didn’t know me, but who believed in my talent and who gave me the first and greatest opportunity of my life, he was my greatest support in a sad moment, he saved my life, i can never thank him enough.

3. MIKA IYEMA:

He is the brother that i would liked to have and that i never had, he showed me love and did everything to ensure that my talent went forward, he gave me what every African musician dreams of having, a home studio, i will never be able to forget it.

4. JOE ROBINSON:

Ohhh, there are a lot of things to say about him, he may not know it but, he helped me in the darkest moments of my sad life, while i had no one to count on, he helped me hold on, thank you very much and God bless you, Master Joe.

5. EXPEDI THUMBA:

Sacred character, the boss of IRIS EMPIRE, surely the biggest of my fans, he is the first person to openly rejoices at my success, he always saw in me a legend, he was the first to see my future, the kind of person i will be, see you on the Endless road buddy.

6. SAMY DRUM:

What can i say about him, he’s more than a friend, a colleague, a brother, the kind of brother i would like to have, while everyone was trying to put me down, he gave me confidence, and made me realize that i was the best of all, he helped me see in myself what everyone didn’t want to let me see. Thank you very much Sam

7. DIVINE MOSAKA:

I can never make this little list, without talking about her, she is the most loving person i have seen in my life, she is very honest, and she appeared in my life at the right time, we played many beautiful songs together, her help has always touched me a lot and she has a great share in the evolution of my music, i never gave up thanks to her, what can i do to thank her?

8. DON NORTH:

Ahhh, I’m proud to call him my friend, he built 80% of my career, he always sends me beautiful songs and he introduced me to the world of greatest, thank you for existing, Bluey.

9. THE GRAND OLE OPRY:

They honored me by inviting me to participate in the promotion of a Tribute Album/Documentary celebrating Chet Atkins, and a national concert tour. it’s a tailor-made opportunity for me as a country music guitarist.

10. TOMMY EMMANUEL:

Ehhhh And the best for the end, there is a whole book to write about what this great man brought to my existence, i built my life practically around him, he is an angel sent by God to save me, i am infinitely proud to be friends with him, I could never dream of better.

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Image Credits
Dachris shoot it