'Africa is the last frontier for metal': Botswana's metal heads still rocking

South African photographer Frank Marshall captured Botswana's heavy metal fans and bands as part of his "Renegades" series.

CNN met up with Botswana's metal heads back in 2012, and caught up with them nearly two years later to see how the scene was developing.

"Skinflint" are one of Botswana's leading metal bands, and have played in South Africa, Kenya and even as far afield as Sweden.

"There has been a strong interest in the African metal scene. It has grown both locally and internationally," says Skinflint singer and guitarist Giuseppe Sbrana.

photographer Marshall, 26, was one of the top 10 finalists in the Sony World Photography Organisation Student Competition and the sole contestant from Africa.

Of Botswana's metal fans, Marshall said: "They embody the very aggressive elements of metal. It's an expression of power. Everything is an expression of power for them, from the clothes to the way they speak to the way they walk."

With names like Demon and Gunsmoke it would be easy to dismiss the rockers as thugs. In fact, the titles come with a strong awareness of social responsibility.

For hardcore fans, heavy metal is more than just a scene -- it's part of their identity.

"There's a strong sense of camaraderie amongst them," Marshall said. "That's the first thing you'll notice about them as an outsider coming in. They've got a very strong bond and friendship with each other."

Skinflint's new drummer, Alessandra Sbrana, is a rare female musician in Botswana's rock scene.
One female rock fan, Katie, told CNN: "I just enjoy it. It's a happy feeling. If you knew my brothers and sisters, it's something that we are as a family.

'Hardcore (Hellrider),' 2012. Rather than Hell's Angels, Gunsmoke believes the rockers are increasingly seen as guardian angels. "Kids follow us around. Parents approach us. We're there for a good cause actually. We help people on the streets at night," he said.

Botswana's rockers have carved a unique image reminiscent of the 1970s British heavy metal scene.

Animal horns, as seen in the background, are an important fashion accessory in the Botswana heavy metal scene. "We always have a symbol that represents Africa," says rocker Gunsmoke.

CNN's Errol Barnett -- or "Killah" as he was dubbed by Gunsmoke -- gets down with the rockers for Inside Africa in 2012.

'Venerated Villain,' 2010. African mythology and folklore loom large in Skinflint's lyrics. "We have a lot of ancestral beliefs -- back in the day they used to believe that if someone dies and you touch the dead person then Gauna will come and take your soul," Sbrana said.

HIDE CAPTION

Botswana's heavy metal heads

Botswana's heavy metal heads

Botswana's heavy metal heads

Botswana's heavy metal heads still rocking

Botswana's heavy metal heads

Botswana's heavy metal heads

Botswana's heavy metal heads

Botswana's heavy metal heads

Botswana's heavy metal heads

Botswana's heavy metal heads still rocking

Botswana's heavy metal heads

Botswana's heavy metal heads

Botswana's heavy metal heads

Botswana's heavy metal heads

Botswana's heavy metal heads

<<

<

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

>

>>

Every week, Inside Africa takes its viewers on a journey across Africa, exploring the true diversity and depth of different cultures, countries and regions. Follow host Errol Barnett on Twitter and Facebook.

(CNN) -- Botswana may not be the first country you'd associate with head banging and shredding guitar solos, but in recent years its heavy metal scene has been making a name for itself.

Back in June 2012, CNN's Inside Africa traveled to the southern African country of Botswana to meet up with some of the country's metal heads, and found the bands' powerful riffs were matched by the fans' passion -- and a penchant for the old-school metal getup of leather, studs and cowboy hats.

"Metal is a music about power, independence and freedom," said Giuseppe Sbrana, singer of local band Skinflint. "That's what I believe in -- fighting for what you believe in no matter the consequences. Standing up for what you believe in and showing individuality."

African musicians defy stereotypes

South African photographer Frank Marshall captured Botswana's rockers in all their Hell's Angels-style glory as part of his "Renegades" series of portraits.

"Metal was seeded here [in Botswana] by a classic rock band that started in the early 70s. Since then, it's evolved and grown," he said.

"In the last 10 to 20 years, it's come to be visually composed of what it looks like now -- the guys dressed in leather. It started off with classic rock and later on more extreme forms of metal were introduced."

Read this: Somali rappers defy bullets, death threats

Nearly two years after that first meeting, CNN caught up with Marshall to find out how the country's fledgling metal scene is developing.

"The difference is quite extreme," said Marshall. "Before then it was largely unknown and now there seems to be a lot of interest. If you look over the internet people have a lot of interest in this new form.

"The last frontier of rock and metal music is African now, is what people are saying, so they are very interested in seeing this scene grow from its, sort of, infancy and seeing where it could go."

And Marshall thinks African bands could one day bang heads with the biggest international names in stadium rock.

"I think it's just going to take hold and grow rapidly," he said. "Africa will start producing very notable international rock bands and metal bands as well and probably in 10 years' time it won't be unusual to see bands from Africa headlining big stages and sharing stages with bands like Metallica. It's not beyond reason -- I'd like to see that happen."

Skinflint's Sbrana also believes that dream could be realized. "Considering the feedback and support we have received from abroad, I would say that it is a strong possibility," he said. "In fact, Africa already has metal bands which have toured Europe, and if given the chance, we will deliver."

Since Inside Africa met them in 2012, Skinflint have gone on to tour Southern Africa and Kenya -- even headlining two concerts in Sweden last year. They are now working on their fifth studio album.

Sbrana says the local metal movement has gone from strength to strength in the last couple of years.

"There has been a strong interest in the African metal scene," he says. "It has grown both locally and internationally. As for the music, I would say that the band has matured and is further expanding on the African metal genre by incorporating more elements from African culture into our music."

For those Africans about to rock, we salute you.

For more on Botswana's metal heads, read the original story here.