This week, TRESOR returns with “Wale Wale”, AGATCHU and Ya Levis drop “One For Me”, and Wouter Kellerman wins his third GRAMMY®. Tharien Smith’s Water Memoirs exhibition is on display in Cape Town, and Botswana’s Diamond City Jazz Festival showcases jazz legends and rising stars. Let’s dive in!
WOUTER KELLERMAN’S THRID GRAMMY
A Celebration of Healing Music and Global Collaboration
South African flutist Wouter Kellerman has won his third GRAMMY® at the 67th Annual GRAMMY® Awards, securing Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album for Triveni. A collaboration with Indian vocalist Chandrika Tandon and Japanese cellist Eru Matsumoto, the album blends new age, chant, and world music into a meditative, healing experience. “Triveni reflects our belief in the power of music to heal and unite,” Kellerman said. This win, following Bayethe (2023) and Winds of Samsara (2015), cements his influence in global music. The awards took place on February 2, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles.
TRESOR RELEASES “WALE WALE”
The Award-Winning Maverick Drops a Fresh Anthem and Gears Up for More Releases
TRESOR, the Congolese-born African pop trailblazer, makes a bold return with “Wale Wale,” a high-energy collaboration with Kenyan star Sofiya Nzau. Blending African house and pop, the track is a freedom anthem that has already landed on major Apple Music and Spotify playlists, including Africa Now, Afro House Nation, and MintSA. Known for his genre-blurring sound and collaborations with global icons like Drake and Metallica, TRESOR is set to release new music regularly, promising groundbreaking partnerships that redefine African pop. His highly anticipated resurgence signals a new wave of innovation in the global music landscape.
AGATCHU PREPARES FOR SOPHMORE EP
The Rising French-Angolan Star Kicks Off 2025 with a Cross-Cultural Collaboration
Following his breakout debut EP Believe, French-Angolan artist AGATCHU launches 2025 with “One For Me”, a vibrant collaboration with Congolese sensation Ya Levis. Released on February 7 via Play Two, the track blends afrobeats, R&B, and pop, bridging Angola and Congo’s musical cultures. “This is a song I’ve dreamed of making with Ya Levis for years,”says AGATCHU. Produced by AZNVR (MHD, Focalistic, TayC), “One For Me” reinforces AGATCHU’s rising global influence as he prepares for his sophomore EP. With industry support from Spotify, Apple Music, and BBC 1Xtra, he’s a rising star to watch in 2025.
NEW MUSIC RELEASES THIS WEEK
Here’s A List Of Artists Who Dropped New Music This Week For You To Stream, Download & Buy
- Rorisang Sechele 🇿🇦 “The Seed“
- Tresor 🇿🇦🇨🇩 “Wale Wale“
- Agatchu 🇫🇷🇨🇩 “One For Me“
- Bongeziwe Mabandla “Amaxesha” Remixes
THE BOTTERBLOM COLLECTION
Honoring Tradition, Celebrating Creativity With A Landmark Auction of African Craftsmanship
Strauss & Co presents the highly anticipated auction of The Botterblom Collection by Frances vH Mohair Studio. The online auction runs from 3–21 February 2025, showcasing handwoven tapestries inspired by the Karoo’s heritage. It features alongside Woven Legacies: Celebrating African Artistry, an annual auction of African craftsmanship. “Botterblom Collection honours the artistry of traditional techniques while celebrating the creativity of local artisans.” Proceeds will support women artisans. Viewings open 4 February at Strauss & Co’s Woodstock offices, Cape Town, with events including a walkabout on 16 February and film screenings on 16 & 20 February.
“COLOURWAY” INTERIOR EXHIBITION
A Vibrant Exhibition Showcasing the Fusion of Fabric, Colour, and Creative Expression
Colourway is an exhibition of paintings by Lauren Shantall in collaboration with interior designer Sarah Ord, launching at St Leger & Viney in Cape Town on 6 March 2025. Celebrating the new Modern Velvet and Vintage Linen fabric collections, the exhibition explores colour through art and design. “It’s a dialogue between two people who share an unbridled love of colour,” says Shantall. The evolving showcase is free to the public during showroom hours in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Select artworks will also be available in Johannesburg
THARIEN SMITH EXHIBITION
An Evocative Exploration of Light, Movement, and Environmental Reflection
Tharien Smith’s Water Memoirs, presented by House Union Block (Spier Arts Trust), opens at Sisonke Gallery, Cape Town, from 6 February to 30 March 2025. Inspired by tidal pools and aquatic landscapes, her layered mixed-media works capture the interplay of light and movement while embedding a call for environmental awareness. “My art emphasizes the urgency of change, calling for reflection, action, and a deeper respect for water,” says Smith. A Nando’s Creative Exchange alum, this marks her first solo show since the RMB Latitudes Art Fair. Open daily, 09h00–18h00. Visit Sisonke Gallery at Cape Heritage Hotel, 90 Bree St.
DIAMOND CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL
Bridging Generations Through the Timeless Art of Jazz
On 29 March 2025, the Diamond City Jazz Festival at Bojanala Waterfront, Botswana, unites jazz legends and rising stars for a night of musical mastery. Icons like Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, McCoy Mrubata, Steve Dyer, and Bhudaza Mapefane will perform alongside young talents including Mpumi Dhlamini, Nono Siile, Azana, Jordan Moozy, and Mpho Sebina. “Jazz is about storytelling, and every generation adds its own voice,” says curator Rapula Kegopilwe. The event features mentorship sessions, cultural activities, and a networking golf day. Tickets from P300 at Webtickets.
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