Zakes Bantwini is one of South Africa’s music sensations known for his captivating sound and creativity when it comes to memorable and catchy lyrics in his songs. His rise to fame continued after the releases of the timeless classics “Wasting My Time” and “Clap Your Hands”, which earned him recognition and critical acclaim both domestically and internationally. With a career spanning over a decade, Zakes continues to cement his place as one of South Africa’s most influential and innovative musicians, known for pushing the boundaries of music production and performance.

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We had a chat with Ghetto King, Zakes Bantwini about the milestones in his musical journey, the impact he has had in the South African music scene AND future plans for new music!

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2022 was quite a big year for you – your SAMA win, Grammy nomination and performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. How would you sum up 2022 and what it meant for you?

[ZAKES BANTWINI]: It was the best year of my career. We built an excellent team and we travelled the world. Everything seemed to just fall into place within the space of one year. I think we might have an even better 2023.

Your live performances are amazing. What elements of a live show are important for you when you perform?

[ZAKES BANTWINI]: I love to connect with my audience every chance I get. Whether it be through teaching them a new dance on stage or helping them learn the lyrics to my songs. It just adds a personal touch. I love bringing that into my live performance and that connection really creates a magical moment on stage.

Going back to The Grammy’s… Congratulations on your nomination! What does a moment like this mean for your career?

[ZAKES BANTWINI]: It means a lot. It’s the most important moment of my entire career and it just reaffirms the importance of staying true. I’ve stayed true to myself and my sound throughout my career. It also speaks to the power and importance of teamwork. My partner Sibo Mhlungu and I built
a brilliant team at IMG Africa that’s really helped us take things to a whole new level.

How does it make you feel seeing proudly African music being so accepted and
welcomed by the world stage?

[ZAKES BANTWINI]: Seeing proudly African music being so accepted and welcomed by the world stage feels like a dream come true. It also proves that the music we’re making is world class and I feel truly honoured to be representing us on the global stage. We’ll be launching my final album Abantu in a few months and we’re excited to see how far we can take things this time around.

Looking at all your achievements – what would you say are the biggest lessons you learnt in your career that can inspire someone who’s inspired to be where you are?

[ZAKES BANTWINI]: I’ve learned a lot of lessons throughout my career. Lately, I’ve learned the importance of teamwork and collaboration. I’ve always been one to collaborate but over the past year, I’ve collaborated with more and more artists and harnessed the power of teamwork in everything that I do.

Any plans for new music and collaborations this year?

[ZAKES BANTWINI]: I’ve got a new album coming very soon and it’s called Abantu. It’s going to be my final album before I retire.

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One thing we can take from Zakes is that consistency is the driving power if you want to reach your goals. We wish the King luck this weekend at this year’s Grammy Awards. We’re rooting for you, Nomcebo Zikode and Wouter Kellerman all the way!!

Featured Image Source(s): Supplied