What started out as playful banter on social media about a high stakes marble game, has turned into one of Carnival’s most anticipated and loved events, the Benny-Demus Carnival Kickball Tournament. This year’s game is scheduled for May 1 at 4 p.m. at the Joseph Aubain Ballpark in Frenchtown.
“One year Wally Kyat and I were on social media joking around about playing marbles and the conversation got so heated that we ended up planning to meet at the Emile Griffith Ballpark on my visit during Carnival so we could settle the debate,” said Benny-Demus.
“When we showed up, there was a crowd of people that trickled into the park to watch the game. We were so shocked by how many people actually showed up and were excited to watch with their children. We decided that before we would play, we would get the kids involved,” he said.
“That afternoon we taught the children the game, the rules, and even gave away marbles so they could continue to play and teach their friends. This marble game and the way my community showed up inspired me. I had to continue this, but knew I wanted it to be bigger, and knew I wanted more participants. Kickball felt like the perfect fit,” said Benny-Demus.
Annually, members from various facets of the Virgin Islands community are invited to play in a series of kickball games that are always scheduled during the week of Carnival. Music moguls, commissioners, senators, and V.I. influencers are just a few of the players who are selected for the teams. With four teams included in this year’s event, spectators can expect to enjoy three kickball games, the last being a championship game to determine the winning team.
Virgin Islander Benny-Demus, is a prominent disc jockey for worldwide music sensation Akon, and manager for award winning duo Rock City and dancehall prodigy Jada Kingdom, and deeply believes in service to community. This is a pillar of The DEMUS Foundation, a nonprofit organization that was established in 2018
“I always knew that I wanted to be the person I needed when I was growing up. Inspiring and motivating others is a big part of my life’s work and it’s at the forefront of everything I do. I am a Virgin Islander and so my first priority is to my community,” said Benny-Demus.
Along with the kickball tournament, Benny-Demus has recently included a home vs away basketball tournament to his Carnival events through The DEMUS Foundation. This game, scheduled for April 30 at 5pm at the Annas Retreat Ballpark, is free and is intended to bring the Virgin Islands diaspora together in camaraderie and fun. This year includes new jerseys for all the players and a water sponsorship through Soca Shores.
Anyone having questions about The DEMUS Foundation, the upcoming events, or opportunities for donating to these community initiatives, can contact Benny-Demus at thedemusfoundation@gmail.com
