Mr Bongo turned 30 this year and at this milestone we thought it was a good time to reflect on the journey we’ve been on over those years. This short film by Owen Tozer is a portrait of Mr Bongo’s owner and founder, David Buttle. It tells the story of a life in music, and explores the passion and dedication required to sustain it.

Owen Tozer (Film Director) - "I had just started working with Mr Bongo and I think it was catching up on those 30 years and hearing the stories for the first time that triggered the idea of telling the story of the brand. Mr Bongo has come a long way from Dave DJing and selling records from his house and I think it’s a perfect time to tell that story. I’m grateful for the chance to go to Brazil with some of the Bongo crew and see for myself why Brazilian music has been so important. There are so many more anecdotes and details that come out when you spend time with Dave and I think we could have easily made a much longer film. It's unusual for me to be making a film with so much amazing music to choose from and to have the chance to make a film featuring the Incredible Bongo Band was amazing!"

David Buttle - “I feel very proud of what we have all achieved. I never thought at the start of this journey that I’d still be in the game 30 years on. Owen is a talented film-maker whose vision has shone a light on what we do at Mr Bongo. I would like to thank everyone who has supported Mr Bongo over the years and especially the Bongo team.”

A film by Owen Tozer.