BIGSONG:
Benjamin Dube (23 January 1962) is a South African gospel recording artist who rose to fame in the early 80s. Over the years he has released several albums which have reached gold and platinum status in the South African music rankings. Dube is also a lead pastor of the High Praise Centre in Voslorus, east of Johannesburg.
Reverend Benjamin Dube is a music ministerial visionary, anointed songwriter and singer, music producer, mentor/father and pastor to many musicians and an inspiration to secular artists in South Africa. A Gospel legend of Africa. He began the journey of his calling in ministry in 1986 when he recorded a single – HOLY SPIRIT which was a cross-over hit song and chart buster on local radio stations and sold over 25 000 units in the year of its release in RSA.
Thirteen years later, he cut a deal with Harmony Records in New York USA under Epic RecordLabel and recorded his first live album – “I Feel Like Going On” which sold over platinum in RSA only. His music ministry has briskly grown internationally,in USA, Sweden, Netherlands, Paris, Australia, Japan, and has an office in Londan – UK.
Reverend Benjamin Dube was born in Johannesburg, South Africa on January 23 1962, the last of five siblings. His parents, educators and evangelist Benjamin Snr and Grace (Singer) Dube in Assemblies of God Church (Back to God Crusade) under the late Bishop Nicholas Bhengu.
Reverend Benjamin Dube is the founder and CEO of High Praise Centre in Boksburg, Johannesburg: a non-profit organization that addresses the spiritual needs of men, women and children. High Praise Centre inaugurated in 1994 is a family affair of over a 2000 membership.
With his musical background,he has sixteen albums to his name, eight which are still on the market and the latest still to be released on March 07 this year. I feel like going on- album sold Platinum (Harmony records/Spirit Music), Praise Explosion 2002 – Album sold Gold (Spirit Music/Dube Connection), For every mountain…Thank you – album sold Platinum (Spirit Music/Dube Connection), High Praise explosion “Oh Bless Our God” -album sold Gold (Sony/Dube Connection).
At the 2009 Crown Gospel Music Awards Reverend Benjamin was awarded the Best Male Artist and received a Lifetime Achievement Award. Thrice he was nominated as a Finalist in the MTN-SAMA awards (2004/6) under the Best Contemporary Gospel category and received an award for Best Praise and Worship Album in 2007 and also received a Crown Gospel Music award for Best Praise and Worship Artist 2008. One gospel honoured him with two awards, Gospel Legend Award and the Best Contemporary Artist.
In addition to his music ministry, Reverend Benjamin Dube is a sought after itinerary speaker. He spoke in former president Nelson Mandela’s “Freedom of the City” award presentation,sharing podiums on both Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki’s presidential inaugurations. He is a well travelled preacher, and has shared podiums with Bishop TD Jakes, Bishop John Francis, Bishop Tudor Bismark, Kirk Franklin, Andrae Crouch, Israel Houghton and many other renowned speakers and musicians. He is doing his Degree in Psychology with UNISA. As senior pastor of High Praise Centre, he speaks to more than 2000 people every Sunday, not counting the seven churches he associates with.
Reverend Dube is the owner of Dube Connection; a music label licensing to SonyBMG and Spirit Music. Through the label he employs his other aptitudes as songwriter,author, and producer/arranger, discovering and developing young talent. Thus far, the label has produced five albums, tow of which have sold Gold and the other two more than Platinum. He has developed business partnership with Sony, Spirit Music, Gallo, EMI, BMG, SAMRO, SARRAL, and RISA
He founded Artist Hope Arise (AHA) in 2009 and also co-founded God’s worshipers Convocation (GWC) in the same year. The first convocation was in September 2009 and is available on DVD. Secular and gospel artists, and celebrities have frequently asked Rev. Benjamin Dube for counselling and his wisdom. He has preached in many of the musicians’ memorial services.
Reverend Benjamin Dube has been a guest of several national television and radio programmes, and has made news in every newspaper and magazine in South Africa. In December 2004, Sunday Sun-Newspaper named him the most influential celebrity of the month with integrity.
Reverend Benjamin with his wife Thabile and four sons live in the south of Johannesburg, RSA.
Early years
Coming from a religious family, Dube’s music interest was sparked at an early age. He gave his life to in the late 70s and started singing gospel music soon afterwards.
