A small Christchurch pipe band is heading to Libya to help celebrate Muammar Gaddafi’s 40 years in power, surprising friends, family and even the Prime Minister.
The majority of European heads of state have boycotted Libya's huge celebrations of Gaddafi's reign after the fall-out from convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Al-Meghari's release.
But the Christchurch pipe band will be playing to the controversial leader later tonight.
Ian Bensemann was a bit surprised when he found out his daughter was going to one of the world's current political hotspots.
“Becca came home one night from band practice and said ‘oh we're going to Libya’ and I sort of said ‘yeah right, what for?’” he says.
The pipe band is travelling to Libya to play in a military tattoo for one of this year's most controversial celebrations.
Thirty African leaders and other dignitaries are gathering in Libya for a week of lavish events to celebrate Mr Gaddafi.
Mr Bensemann says Mr Gadaffi invited the band from Christchurch and is bankrolling the entire trip.
“Basically Mr Gadaffi wanted a tattoo and Mr Gadaffi gets a tattoo,” he says.
Even Prime Minister John Key was surprised by the band’s travel plans.
“Really? Interesting choice of gig,” he says.
Western leaders have boycotted the celebrations after fall-out over Scotland giving Lockerbie bomber Al-Megrahi early release because he is dying of cancer.
Mr Bensemann said he had to explain the history of the Lockerbie bomber to his daughter before she left.
“She's only 20 so she actually didn't fully understand freeing the Lockerbie bomber and what sort of repercussions that would have,” he says.
Despite the dangers, the band has marched on to Tripoli, playing tonight to Mr Gadaffi with other players from around the world in traditional Scottish woollen kilts.
The band returns to Christchurch on Saturday.
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