World Cerebral Palsy Day: Auckland rapper ‘living life in the key of CP’

Rapper Ben ‘Benza’ Tuimaseve lives life in “the key of CP”.

The 34-year-old is also a talented athlete - he went to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games - and wants to raise disability awareness and reduce stigma among Pacific people.

“For our Pacific people, where historically disability has been seen as a curse.”

Today, October 6, marks World Cerebral Palsy Day.

Tuimaseve freestyled a rap for the occasion.

“Coming to you in the form of rap, clap twice because I’m that nice.

“But today make it three, for everybody living the life in the key of CP.”

Cerebral palsy is a disability that often affects muscle movement, communication, and motor skills.

On the voluntary NZ Cerebral Palsy Register (NZCPR), 26 per cent - about 368 - of the 1416 people are Maori, and 12 per cent - about 170 - are Pacific people.

National population averages for Pasifika - 8 per cent- and Māori - 17 per cent - are smaller.

The Cerebral Palsy Society of NZ is working with the NZ Cerebral Palsy Register to gather more data in this area.

Born in New Zealand, Tuimaseve is Niuean, Samoan, & Cook Island. Hakupu (Niue), Lufilufi (Samoa) & Palmerston (Cook Islands.)

Tuimaseve has cerebral palsy (CP) and left hemiplegia, which impairs his motor skills on the left side of his body.

“It just means having a different operating system - like Windows for PC, we have CP, and there’s so many versions of that.”

Tuimaseve elaborates on his disability in a video he made to promote World CP Day.

“Cerebral palsy, in a nutshell, is when your brain sends a message like ‘Up To?’ to one side of your body.

“And [the other} side of your body usually ghosts."

Starting his shot put career in late 2016 and Tuimaseve his debut at the Ben ‘Benza’ Tuimaseve Tokyo 2020 Paralympic GamesTuimaseve placed 9th in the men’s shot put F37, throwing 13.31m to set a new Oceania record.

He says that the sport has been an adventure and discovery of himself and cerebral palsy.

“Tokyo was a mean reward of hard work, support and what happens if you don’t give up.

“The highlight was throwing amongst the best in the world at a tasty stadium and seeing the worldwide spectrum of disability."

Tuimaseve has also had a passion for dancing since he could remember - describing it as “a place to escape bullying".

“A place where I feel free for a bit and can express myself when I can’t find the words. Five hours straight, I think I’ve danced nonstop.”